"How many times hast thou heard how one was slain by the sword, another was drowned, another falling from on high broke his neck, another died at the table, another whilst at play! One died by fire, another by the sword, another by the pestilence, another by the robber. Thus cometh death to all, and the life of men swiftly passeth away like a shadow."

"For a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to excel in virtue, the love of discipline, the painfulness of repentance, readiness to obey, denial of self, submission to any adversity for love of Christ; these are the things which shall give great confidence of a happy death. Whilst thou art in health thou hast many opportunities of good works; but when thou art in sickness I know not how much thou wilt be able to do."

"Happy is the man who hath the hour of his death always before his eyes, and daily prepareth himself to die."

"If to-day thou art not ready, how shalt thou be ready to-morrow? To-morrow is an uncertain day; and how knowest thou that thou shalt have a to-morrow?"

"Thou oughtest in every deed and thought so to order thyself, as if thou wert to die this day."

"There is no man in the world free from trouble or anguish, though he were King or Pope."

"Arise, begin this very moment, and say, “Now is the time to do: now is the time to fight, now is the proper time for amendment.”"

"So long as we carry about with us this frail body, we cannot be without sin, we cannot live without weariness and trouble."

"Thou art miserable wheresoever thou art, and whithersoever thou turnest, unless thou turn thee to God."

"One hath said, “As oft as I have gone among men, so oft have I returned less a man.” This is what we often experience when we have been long time in conversation."

"The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God."

"Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to thee."

"No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled."

"It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should."

"What canst thou see elsewhere which thou canst not see here? Behold the heaven and the earth and all the elements; for of these are all things created."

"Be thou never without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community."

"In the morning make thy resolves, and in the evening inquire into thy life, how thou hast sped to-day in word, deed, and thought;"

"For if he who resolveth bravely oftentimes falleth short, how shall it be with him who resolveth rarely or feebly?"

"We ought daily to renew our vows, and to kindle our hearts to zeal, as if each day were the first day of our conversion, and to say, “Help me, O God, in my good resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and grant that this day I may make a good beginning, for hitherto I have done nothing!”"

"Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit."

"We desire rules to be made restraining others, but by no means will we suffer ourselves to be restrained. Thus therefore doth it plainly appear how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves."

"We are ready to see others made perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings."

"Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men’s faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others."

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be."

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."

"Look well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the doings of others. In judging others a man laboureth in vain; he often erreth, and easily falleth into sin; but in judging and examining himself he always laboureth to good purpose."

"And so little by little the enemy entereth in altogether, because he was not resisted at the beginning."

"The beginning of all temptations to evil is instability of temper and want of trust in God; for even as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so is a man who is careless and infirm of purpose tempted, now on this side, now on that. As fire testeth iron, so doth temptation the upright man."

"Yet, notwithstanding, temptations turn greatly unto our profit, even though they be great and hard to bear; for through them we are humbled, purified, instructed. All Saints have passed through much tribulation and temptation, and have profited thereby."

"It is good for us that we sometimes have sorrows and adversities, for they often make a man lay to heart that he is only a stranger and sojourner, and may not put his trust in any worldly thing. It is good that we sometimes endure contradictions, and are hardly and unfairly judged, when we do and mean what is good. For these things help us to be humble, and shield us from vain-glory."

"How can he abide long time in peace who occupieth himself with other men’s matters, and with things without himself, and meanwhile payeth little or rare heed to the self within?"

"Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others."

"Choose for thy companions God and His Angels only, and flee from the notice of men."

"Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath."

"Be not lifted up because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight sickness it will fail and wither away. Be not vain of thy skilfulness or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom cometh every good gift which we have."

"The proud and the avaricious man are never at rest; while the poor and lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace."

"If thou desire to profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faithfulness; nor even desire the repute of learning."

"But they that are perfect, do not give ready heed to every news-bearer, for they know man’s weakness that it is prone to evil and unstable in words."

"He is truly great that is great in charity. He is truly great that is little in himself, and maketh no account of any height of honor. And he is truly learned that doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will."

"And because many seek knowledge rather than good living, therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit."

"Of a surety, at the Day of Judgment it will be demanded of us, not what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holily we have lived."

"O quam cito transit gloria mundi."

"Certe adveniente die judicii, non quæretur a nobis quid legimus, sed quid fecimus; nec quam bene diximus, sed quam religiose viximus."

"A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being still and quiet, seeks not itself in any thing it doth."

"To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom."

"He who knoweth himself well is vile in his own sight;"

"Be not high-minded, but rather confess thine ignorance."