"When there is question of working on one's self, a man experiences difficulty, he soon finds that he always does enough. But he will greatly devote himself for others, will sacrifice himself for their advancement, though he may be lax when there is question of self. In the same measure as he rushes forth to [...]
"A soul does not benefit as it should from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor it is willing, to prove with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery." [...]
"The increasing prominence of a relativistic understanding of that nature presents serious problems for education, especially moral education, jeopardizing its universal extension. Yielding to this kind of relativism makes everyone poorer and has a negative impact on the effectiveness of aid to the most needy populations, who lack not only economic and technical means, but [...]
"Giving is really a divinely appointed way of acknowledging the mercies of God. We have indeed nothing to offer anyway that we have not received, and yet He is pleased to accept our offerings as tokens of our gratitude. Egotism makes the self the center; altruism and charity make the neighbor the center." -Ven. Fulton [...]
"You must seek earnestly the grace of devotion, ask for it fervently, await it patiently and hopefully, receive it gratefully, guard it humbly, cooperate with it carefully and leave to God, when it comes, the length and manner of the heavenly visitation. When you feel little or no inward devotion, you should especially humiliate yourself, [...]
" You must be meek toward the neighbor. The principle of meekness toward the neighbor lies in charity. You will be meek toward him, if you see in him the gifts of God, if you love God in him. To love men for themselves is time and trouble lost. Men are sacks full of holes. [...]
"Very often demons manage to persuade us either to omit confession, or else to confess as though the sins were committed by someone else or else to blame others as responsible for our own sins." -St. John Climacus
"Let all vain ornament be banished, and every hurtful glance, and all wanton gait, and every flowing robe, and perfume enticing to pleasure. But in all for perfume let there be the prayer of sweet odour, and the practice of good works, and the sanctification of our bodies: that the Virgin-born Lord may say even [...]
"You will ask how to put away anger. My child, when you feel its first movements, collect yourself gently and seriously, not hastily or with impetuosity." -St. Francis de Sales
"Technologically advanced societies must not confuse their own technological development with a presumed cultural superiority, but they must rather rediscover within themselves the oft-forgotten virtues which made it possible for them to flourish throughout their history." -Pope Benedict XVI