Quotes from Teresa of Avila

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.

After you die, you wear what you are.

Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile or self-pitying responses that your sinful soul wants to spew out, as if these puny things could in any way defend you! Watch and see if any of these poisons come out of you when your spirit is pricked by an accusation. Only then can you see yourself as you are, and confess thy sin that is within you and forsake yourself again into the Lords care.

Vivo sin vivir en mí... muero porque no muero. (I live without really being alive... I die because I am not dying.)

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.

Out of suffering comes the serious mind; out of salvation, the grateful heart; out of endurance, fortitude; out of deliverance faith. Patient endurance attends to all things.

The closer one approaches to God, the simpler one becomes.

In order that love be fully satisfied, It is necessary that It lower Itself and that It lower Itself to nothingness and transform this nothingness into fire.

It is only mercenaries who expect to be paid by the day.

With all this wide and beautiful creation before me the restless soul longs to enjoy its liberty and rest beyond its bound.

[On her father:] ... in losing him I lost my greatest blessing and comfort, for he was always that to me.

I am really much more afraid of those people who have so great a fear of the devil, than I am of the devil himself.

Let nothing disturb you nothing frighten you all things are passing God never changes.

Life is to life in such a way that we are not afraid to die.