A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends
friendship
Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward
contentment happiness inner-peace
We follow the ways of wolves, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are become worse than the wild beast.
inspirational philosophy veganism
I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in not enjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants to receive it. And if he wants to receive it, he cannot help but being distraught at losing it. Those who are in love with applause have their spirits starved not only when they are blamed off-hand, but even when they fail to be constantly praised.
flattery praise pride
If then we have angels, let us be sober, as though we were in the presence of tutors; for there is a demon present also.
angels demon
As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a [person].
envy
The highest point of philosophy is to be both wise and simple; this is the angelic life.
life philosophy
Men have the power of thinking that they may avoid sin.
men power
And all men are ready to pass judgement on the priest as if he was not a being clothed with flesh, or one who inherited a human nature.
humannature men nature
No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong.
man wrongs
I know my own soul, how feeble and puny it is: I know the magnitude of this ministry, and the great difficulty of the work; for more stormy billows vex the soul of the priest than the gales which disturb the sea.
work
When one is required to preside over the Church, and be entrusted with the care of so many souls, the whole female sex must retire before the magnitude of the task, and the majority of men also.
majority men
The divine law indeed has excluded women from this ministry, but they endeavour to thrust themselves into it; and since they can effect nothing of themselves, they do all through the agency of others.
women
O most grateful burden, which comforts them that carry it! The burdens of earthly masters gradually wear out the strength of those who carry them; but the burden of Christ assists the bearers of it, because we carry not grace, but grace us.
grace strength
Poor human reason, when it trusts in itself, substitutes the strangest absurdities for the highest divine concepts.
trust