"Dances and balls are things in themselves indifferent, but the circumstances ordinarily surrounding them have so generally an evil tendency that they become full of temptation and danger." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"If sensual affection wants to love sensual things, the eye of understanding is moved in that direction. It takes for its object only passing things with selfish love, contempt for virtue, and love of vice, drawing from these pride and impatience. And the memory is filled only with what affection holds out to it. This [...]
"When I became aware of God’s great plans for me, I was frightened at their greatness and felt myself quite incapable of fulfilling them, and I began to avoid interior conversations with Him, filling up the time with vocal prayer. I did this out of humility, but I soon recognized it was not true humility, [...]
"I am sorry for people who lose their souls; it is so easy to miss your way when the paths of the world seem so attractive." Source: St. Therese of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul, Saint Benedict Press, 2010.
“You cannot arrive at virtue except through knowing yourself and knowing me. And this knowledge is more perfectly gained in time of temptation, because then you know that you are nothing, since you have now power to relieve yourself of the sufferings and troubles you would like to escape. And you know me in your [...]
"The devil makes us believe that we have some virtue – patience, let us say – because we have determination and make continual resolutions to suffer a great deal for God’s sake. We really and truly believe that we would suffer all this, and the devil encourages us in the belief, and so we are [...]
"The will should always rule oven the body and the senses. It is a difficult and fortunate thing to become master of one's body. On account of contact with the world, there are some discouraging difficulties, and it is rare for one to become absolute master of his senses. For a time, yes; but surprise [...]
"Be sure, my daughter, that if you seek to lead a devout life, you must not merely forsake sin, but you must further cleanse your heart from all affections pertaining to sin; for, to say nothing of the danger of a relapse, these wretched affections will perpetually enfeeble your mind, and clog it, so that [...]
"He who does not overcome small faults, shall fall little by little into greater ones." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Dover Thrift Editions, 1940.
"Never promise yourself security in this life, even though you seem to be a good religious, or a devout hermit. It happens very often that those whom men esteem highly are more seriously endangered by their own excessive confidence. Hence, for many it is better not to be too free from temptations, but often to [...]