Frequently a big advantage can be gained by knowing how to give in at the right moment. Francois Fenelon More Quotes by Francois Fenelon More Quotes From Francois Fenelon It is often our own imperfection which makes us reprove the imperfection of others; a sharp-sighted self-love of others Francois Fenelon self-loveinspirationself To be faithful in prayer it is indispensable that we arrange all the activities of the day with a regularity that nothing can disturb Francois Fenelon faithfulregularityprayer Let me follow in Thy footsteps, O Jesus ! I would imitate Thee, but cannot without the aid of Thy grace! O humble and lowly Saviour, grant me the knowledge of the true Christian, and that I may willingly despise myself; let me learn the lesson so incomprehensible to the mind of man, that I must die to myself by an abandonment that shall produce true humility. Francois Fenelon humblechristianjesus Avoid all refined speculations; confine yourself to simple reflections, and recur to them frequently. Those who pass too rapidly from one truth to another feed their curiosity and restlessness; they even distract their intellect with too great a multiplicity of views. Give every truth time to send down deep root into the heart. Francois Fenelon simplereflectionheart No human power can force the intrenchments of the human mind: compulsion never persuades; it only makes hypocrites. Francois Fenelon convictionhypocritemind The presence of God calms the soul, and gives it quiet and repose. Francois Fenelon calmsoulgiving O Lord! take my heart, for I cannot give it; and when Thou hast it, O! keep it, for I cannot keep it for Thee; and save me in spite of myself, for Jesus Christ's sake. Francois Fenelon heartgivingjesus Violent excitement exhausts the mind and leaves it withered and sterile. Francois Fenelon excitementviolencemind Thou lovest like an infinite God when Thou lovest; Thou movest heaven and earth to save Thy loved ones. Thou becomest man, a babe, the vilest of men, covered with reproaches, dying with infamy and under the pangs of the cross; all this is not too much for an infinite love. Francois Fenelon dyingmenheaven Do we accustom ourselves to see all things in the light of faith? Do we correct all our judgments by it? Alas! The greater part of Christians think and act like mere heathens; if we judge (as we justly may) of their faith by their practice, we must conclude they have no faith at all. Francois Fenelon lightchristianthinking If we love Him infinitely more than we do ourselves, we make an unconditional sacr Here it is that the Spirit teaches us all truth; for all truth is eminently contained in this sacrifice of love, where the soul strips itself of every thing to present it to God. Francois Fenelon sacrificesoulspirit Despondency is not a state of humility; on the contrary, it is the vexation and despair of a cowardly pride--nothing is worse; whether we stumble or whether we fall, we must only think of rising again and going on in our course. Francois Fenelon pridehumilityfall The kingdom of God which is within us consists in our willing whatever God wills, always, in every thing, and without reservation; and thus His kingdom comes; for His will is then done as it is in heaven, since we will nothing but what is dictated by His sovereign pleasure. Francois Fenelon donekingdomsheaven A cross borne in simplicity, without the interference of self-love to augment it, is only half a cross. Suffering in this simplicity of love, we are not only happy in spile of the cross, but because of it; for love is pleased in suffering for the Well Beloved, and the cross which forms us into His image is a consoling bond of love. Francois Fenelon simplicityselflove-is There are two principal points of attention necessary for the preservation of this constant spirit of prayer which unites us with God; we must continually seek to cherish it, and we must avoid everything that tends to make us lose it. Francois Fenelon prayerattentiontwo O God, the creature knows not to what end Thou hast made Him; teach him, and write in the depths of his soul that the clay must suffer itself to be shaped at the will of the potter. Francois Fenelon soulsufferingwriting Let us endeavor to commence every enterprise with a pure view to the glory of God, continue it without distraction, and finish it without impatience. Francois Fenelon distractiongloryviews God would behold in you a simplicity which will contain so much the more of His wisdom as it contains less of your own. Francois Fenelon simplicity It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not the constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us. It is to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to see our duty in the present moment, and to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God. Francois Fenelon choicespathchristian We may be sure that it is the love of God only that can make us come out of self. If His powerful hand did not sustain us, we should not know how to take the first step in that direction. Francois Fenelon powerfulselfhands
