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Teresa of Avila
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“From foolish devotions and sour-faced saints may God deliver us!”
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“[On her father:] ... in losing him I lost my greatest blessing and comfort, for he was always that to me ...”
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“There was the torture of sermons, and that not a slight one, for I was very fond of them.”
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“A slight failing in one virtue is enough to put all the others to sleep.”
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“I have always had this failing — that I cannot explain myself, as I have said, except at the cost of many words.”
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“How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.”
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“To want to become angels while we are still on earth ... is ridiculous.”
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“It is impossible for human tongue to exaggerate the riches which a vision from God brings to the soul: it even bestows health and refreshment on the body.”
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“What a miserable life is this! There is no happiness that is secure and nothing that does not change.”
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“Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making its honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.”
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“I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle made of a single diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.”
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“The important thing is not to think much but to love much; do, then, whatever most arouses you to love.”
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“... we cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor. And be certain that, the farther advanced you find you are in this, the greater the love you will have for God ...”
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“Lord, how Thou dost afflict Thy lovers!”
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“Every part of the journey is of importance to the whole.”
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“I believe that honor and money nearly always go together ... Seldom or never is a poor man honored by the world; however worthy of honor he may be, he is apt rather to be despised by it.”
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“... this body of ours has one fault: the more you indulge it, the more things it discovers to be essential to it. It is extraordinary how it likes being indulged ... ”
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“I only wish I could write with both hands, so as not to forget one thing while I am saying another.”
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“... let there be no disappointment when obedience keeps you busy in outward tasks. If it sends you to the kitchen, remember that the Lord walks among the pots and pans ...”
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“Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy and tranquillity.”
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“Untilled soil, however fertile it may be, will bear thistles and thorns: and so it is with man's mind.”
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“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.”
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“Never do anything which you could not do in the sight of all.”
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“Never compare one person with another: comparisons are odious.”
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“God deliver me from people who are so spiritual that they want to turn everything into perfect contemplation, come what may.”
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“Let nothing disturb thee; / Let nothing dismay thee: / All things pass; / God never changes. / Patience attains / All that it strives for. / He who has God / Finds he lacks nothing: / God alone suffices.”
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“One always goes on as one begins ...”
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“People in the world pay little heed to reason where their own interests are involved.”
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“But the fact is, things always seem to come slowly when you are longing for them.”
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“I fully realize that this gratitude of mine is not in the least a sign of perfection: it must be my nature — I could be suborned with a sardine ...”
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“However, when all is said, truth suffers, but never dies ...”
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“But God will provide.”
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“How I have longed for thee! Oh welcome hour — the end of exile.”
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“Patient endurance / Attaineth to all things.”
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“Don't imagine that if you had a great deal of time you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of that idea! Again and again God gives more in a moment than in a long period of time, for his actions are not measured by time at all.”
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“A thousand souls hear his call every second, but most every one looks into their life's mirror and says, 'I am not worthy to leave this sadness.'”
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“To argue over who is the more noble is nothing more than to dispute whether dirt is better for making bricks or for making mortar.”
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“The nicest thing we can do for our heavenly Father is to be kind to one of His children.”
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“Pain is never permanent.”
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“God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works. ”
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“It is true that we cannot be free from sin, but at least let our sins not always be the same.”
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“Life is a night spent in an uncomfortable inn.”
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“Let thy words be few when in the midst of many ...”
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“Settle yourself in solitude, and you will come upon God in yourself ...”
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“After you die, you wear what you are ...”
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“From moment to moment one can bear much.”
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“Let us live in such a way as not to be afraid to die.”
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“All times are dangerous times.”
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“[To a young nun boasting of being a great sinner:] Now, Sister, remember, none of us are perfect. Just make sure those sins of yours don't turn into bad habits.”
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“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.”
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“[Last words:] My Lord, it is time to move on. Well then, may your will be done. O my Lord and my Spouse, the hour that I have longed for has come. It is time to meet one another.”
Teresa of Avila, Spanish mystic, poet, Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint
(1515 - 1582)
Full name: Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada.