Quotes from Vincent de Paul

. . . [A]s a rule, the most learned persons do not produce the greatest results. We see that only too often.

[A] sick mind cannot be cured by the sheer force of persuasion.

Laws must never be made compatible with crimes, no more than lying should be in harmony with the truth.

Just as stinginess is blameworthy, so is facility in paying more for things than they are worth...

If there is any danger in the present weather, in the name of God, Monsieur, wait until spring

Far from being a bad thing to seek advice, you must, on the contrary, do so when the matter is of any importance, or when we cannot come to a clear decision on our own.

Is it not better to fail after asking advice than to risk acting on our own?

I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do.

With whose imperfections will you bear, and what insult are you capable of enduring, if a thoughtless word from your own Superior is unbearable?

Oh! how happy the man of means who uses his wealth and his life for the greater glory of God, from whom he has received them!

Do not be afraid of undertaking too much of what you can do without coming and going; but fear only the thought of doing more than you are doing and more than God is giving you the means to do.

It is not easy to find perfect men in whom there is nothing to criticize.

Far from rejecting such a good man as you, He never even abandons a wicked man who hopes for His mercy.

Let us do our duty well; let us go straight to God; let us work to become very humble, very patient, very mortified, and very charitable.

Rarely is any good done without difficulty; the devil is too subtle and the world too corrupt not to attempt to nip such a good work in the bud

...Omit nothing which can advance his work, and not blame others for the delay.

In a word, we owe obedience to the bishops in all things pertaining to our work in the missions, with ordinands, etc., but the spiritual and internal direction belongs to the Superior General.

It is a good sign when He burdens us with [crosses] and we carry them well, but woe to the person who runs away from them, for he will find such heavy ones that they will overwhelm him.

Let us be submissive to Providence, He will see to our affairs in His own time and in His own way

Providence must call us and we must follow it, if we are to go forward confidently.

Peace is worth far more than anything they might take from you.

He also always blesses humble beginnings much more than those accompanied by a lot of show.

His Divine Goodness asks that we never do good in any place to make ourselves look important but that we always consider Him directly, immediately, and without intermediary in all our actions.

I have never made any distinction between those who have taken vows and those who have not; some should not be overburdened in order to spare others.