Quotes & Themes – Little Virtues

Little Virtues

Let us practice certain little virtues proper for our littleness. (Letters to Persons in the World, I, 5)

We are little chicks, and have not our wings yet. (Letters to Persons in the World, I, 5)

Our arms are not yet long enough to reach the cedars of Lebanon; let us con­tent ourselves with the hyssop of the valleys. (Letters to Persons in the World, VI, 7)

Let us leave the lofty heights to the souls who have been raised so high; we shall be only too happy to serve Him in His kitchen and pantry. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2)

Let us go by land, since the high sea makes our head turn. (Letters to Persons in the World, I, 5)

Better is the possession of a small treas­ure found than the expectation of a greater which is to find. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 8, chapter 12)

Let us not be troubled at finding our­selves always novices in the exercise of virtues, for in the monastery of a devout life everyone considers himself always a novice. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, chapter 7)

While we are busy and anxious to find out what is the better, we unprofitably let slip the time for doing many good things. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 8, chapter 12)

To advance well we must apply our­selves to make good way in the road near­est to us, and do the first day’s journey. (Letters to Persons in the World, I, 5)

We must sometimes take a step back to get a better spring. (Letters to Persons in the World II, 6)

We must not busy ourselves with want­ing to do the last day’s journey, but remember that we are to do and work out the first. (Letters to Persons in the World, I, 5)

Soon enough, if well enough. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, II, 8)

It is a well-regulated mixture of both sugar and salt which produces a good flavor in a salad dressing. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XVII, 3)

A sensible mind is a medium mind, which is neither too great nor too little. (Letters to Persons in Religion, V, 9)

Those who wish to straighten a young tree, not only bring it to the direction in which they wish it to grow, but even bend it somewhat beyond, so that it may not return to its former direction. (Spiritual Conferences, 9)

Salt and sugar are both excellent things, but too much of either spoils the dish. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XIX 2)

If you must go to excess on one or the other side, let it be toward indulgence, for no sauce was ever spoiled by sugar. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, II, 13)

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