"One must avoid excess, either in the time given to them, or the amount of interest they absorb; for if too much time be given up to such things, they cease to be a recreation and become an occupation; and so far from resting and restoring mind or body, they have precisely the contrary effect." [...]
"We need to occasionally relax the mind, and the body requires some recreation also. Cassian relates how St. John the Evangelist was found by a certain hunter amusing himself by petting a partridge, which sat upon his wrist. The hunter asked how a man of his mental powers could find time for so trifling an [...]
"It was a saying of St. Louis that one should contradict nobody, unless there was sin or harm in consenting; and that in order to avoid contention and dispute. At any rate, when it is necessary to contradict anybody, or to assert one's own opinion, it should be done gently and considerately, without irritation or [...]
"And, of course, you must speak freely in condemnation of the professed enemies of God and His Church, heretics and schismatics – it is true charity to point out the wolf wherever he creeps in among the flock. Most people permit themselves absolute latitude in criticizing and censuring rulers, and in calumniating nationalities, according to [...]
"No, my child, we must never, in our wish to shun slander, foster or flatter vice in others; but we must call evil evil, and sin sin, and so doing we shall serve God’s Glory." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"But while extremely sensitive as to the slightest approach to slander, you must also guard against an extreme into which some people fall, who, in their desire to speak evil of no one, actually uphold and speak well of vice." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002. [...]
"My daughter, I entreat you never speak evil of any, either directly or indirectly; beware of ever unjustly imputing sins or faults to your neighbor, of needlessly disclosing his real faults, of exaggerating such as are overt, of attributing wrong motives to good actions, of denying the good that you know to exist in another, [...]
"Slander is a kind of murder; for we all have three lives – a spiritual life, which depends upon the Grace of God; a bodily life, depending on the soul; and a civil life, consisting in a good reputation. Sin deprives us of the first, death of the second, and slander of the third." [...]
"From rash judgments proceed mistrust, contempt for others, pride, and self-sufficiency, and numberless other pernicious results, among which stands forth prominently the sin of slander, which is veritable pest of society." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"Are we never, then, to judge our neighbor? you ask. Never, my child. It is God Who judges criminals brought before a court of law." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.