So long as we are full of self we are shocked at the faults of others. Let us think often of our own sin, and we shall be lenient to the sins of others. Francois Fenelon More Quotes by Francois Fenelon More Quotes From Francois Fenelon There are some people who think that they should be always mourning, that they should put a continual constraint upon themselves, and feel a disgust for those amusements to which they are obliged to submit. For my own part, I confess that I know not how to conform myself to these rigid notions. I prefer something more simple, which I also think would be more pleasing to God. Francois Fenelon simple people thinking Sordid and infamous sensuality, the most dreadful evil that issued from the box of Pandora, corrupts every heart, and eradicates every virtue. Fly! wherefore dost thou linger? Fly, cast not one look behind thee; nor let even thy thought return to the accursed evil for a moment. Francois Fenelon evil heart looks The gifts of God are not to be rejected on account of the channel that brings them. Francois Fenelon accounts gift-from-god rejected Nothing is more false and more indiscreet than always to want to choose what mortifies us in everything. By this rule a person would soon ruin his health, his business, his reputation, his relations with his relatives and friends, in fact every good work which Providence gives him. Francois Fenelon relatives-and-friends want giving We must avoid fastidiousness; neatness, when it is moderate, is a virtue; but when it is carried to an extreme, it narrows the mind. Francois Fenelon extremes virtue mind Our piety must be weak and imperfect if it do not conquer our fear of death. Francois Fenelon imperfect conquer weak It is this unquiet self-love that renders us so sensitive. The sick man, who sleeps ill, thinks the night long. We exaggerate, from cowardice, all the evils which we encounter; they are great, but our sensibility increases them. The true way to bear them is to yield ourselves up with confidence to God. Francois Fenelon sleep men night On this earth all is temptation. Crosses tempt us by irritating our pride, and prosperity by flattering it. Our life is a continual combat, but one in which Jesus Christ fights for us. We must pass on unmoved, while temptations rage around us, as the traveler, overtaken by a storm, simply wraps his cloak more closely about him, and pushes on more vigorously toward his destined home. Francois Fenelon fighting home jesus God, who is liberal in all his other gifts, shows us, by the wise economy of His providence, how circumspect we ought to be in the management of our time, for He never gives us two moments together. Francois Fenelon wise time two God has not chosen to save us without crosses; as He has not seen fit to create men at once in the full vigor of manhood, but has suffered them to grow up by degrees amid all the perils and weaknesses of youth. Francois Fenelon growing-up weakness men There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we consider those things of little importance which have in fact such extensive consequences. Francois Fenelon real views mind Crosses are of no use to us but inasmuch as we yield ourselves up to them and forget ourselves. Francois Fenelon yield use forget There were some who said that a man at the point of death was more free than all others, because death breaks every bond, and over the dead the united world has no power. Francois Fenelon men death world I am not in the least surprised that your impression of death becomes more lively, in proportion as age and infirmity bring it nearer. God makes use of this rough trial to undeceive us in respect to our courage, to make us feel our weakness, and to keep us in all humility in His hands. Francois Fenelon humility death hands How does our will become sanctified? By conforming itself unreservedly to that of God. Francois Fenelon conform gods-will doe When kings interfere in matters of religion, they enslave instead of protecting it. Francois Fenelon kings matter religion True piety hath in it nothing weak, nothing sad, nothing constrained. It enlarges the heart; it is simple, free, and attractive. Francois Fenelon simple weak heart Before putting yourself in peril, it is necessary to foresee and fear it; but when one is there, nothing remains but to despise it. Francois Fenelon peril despise courage
