Quotes from Jean Vanier

Wisdom is something that comes, little by little, through a lot of listening.

All of us have a secret desire to be seen as saints, heroes, martyrs. We are afraid to be children, to be ourselves.

A community which refuses to welcome - whether through fear, weariness, insecurity, a desire to cling to comfort, or just because it is fed up with visitors - is dying spiritually.

When we judge, we are pushing people away; we are creating a wall, a barrier. When we forgive we are destroying barriers, we come closer to others.

Community begins in mystery and ends in administration. Leaders move away from people and into paper.

To be free is to put justice, truth and service to others over and above our personal gain or our need for recognition, power, honor and success. When we cling to personal power and success, when we are afraid of loosing social status, then we are in some way denying our humanity; we become slaves to our own needs, we are not free.