Quotes from Therese of Lisieux

God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.

I am very far from practicing what I understand.

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.

Look at Him while He is looking at you.

For me, prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy.

Prayer and sacrifice can touch souls better than words.

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.

The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place.

I have always wanted to become a saint. Unfortunately, when I have compared myself with the saints, I have always found that there is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by.

It is my weakness that gives me all my strength.

My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience.

Life is only a dream: soon, we shall awaken. And what joy! The greater our sufferings, the more limitless our glory. Oh! do not let us waste the trial Jesus sends.

I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.

Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe.

Love is a universe of its own, comprising all time and space.

Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers, and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.

Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer.

Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.

Perfect love means putting up with other peoples shortcomings, feeling no surprise at their weaknesses, finding encouragement even in the slightest evidence of good qualities in them.

You know well that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.

Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else.

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.

My vocation, at last I have found it; my vocation is love.

When one loves, one does not calculate.