Quotes from Saint Francis de Sales

The Prayer of the sick person is his patience and his acceptance of his sickness for the love of Jesus Christ. Make sickness itself a prayer, for there is none more powerful, save martyrdom!

By turning your eyes on God in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with God. Begin all your prayers in the presence of God.

Make sickness itself a prayer.

You can attract more bees with a spoonful of sugar than a cupful of vinegar.

All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.

One single day of devotion is worth more than a thousand years of worldly life.

By giving yourself to God, You not only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal life as well.

The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not "What a lovely sermon!" but "I will do something."

Examine from time to time what are the dominant passions of your soul, and having ascertained this, mold your life, so that in thought, word, and deed you may as far as possible counteract them.

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to complete the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again.

There is no better means of attainment to the spiritual life Than by continually beginning again.

Be who you are and be that well.

The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them.

Through devotion, your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the prince more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable.

God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.

There is nothing as strong as tenderness, And nothing as tender as true strength.

Doing little things with a strong desire to please God makes them really great.

If we say a little it is easy to add, but having said too much it is hard to withdraw and never can it be done so quickly as to hinder the harm of our success.

So many have come to me that I might serve them, leaving me no time to think of myself. However, I assure you that I do feel deep down within me, God be praised.

A good discourse is that from which nothing can be retrenched without cutting into the quick.

Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.

The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled with passion for it, and their mouths full of its praises.

When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.