Vincent De Paul Quotes

Experience has shown us that virtue puts down only shallow roots in those who are there for just a short time

If you do not see any good in these persons, then say nothing, but if you do see some, speak about it to honor God in them because all good proceeds from Him.

When in Rome, you must do as the Romans do and accept the local customs, if they are not immoral.

...it is difficult to master one's feelings and be exact in everything in the midst of many affairs

Just as stinginess is blameworthy, so is facility in paying more for things than they are worth...

...Seek counsel of very pious, disinterested persons, and follow the call of O[ur] L[ord] and the advice of those persons.

If there is any danger in the present weather, in the name of God, Monsieur, wait until spring

That's what our Rules engage us to do, to help poor persons, our lords and masters.

Furthermore, the apostolic life does not exclude contemplation but encompasses it and profits by it to know better the eternal truths it must proclaim

All of you desire to belong entirely to God, and God also wants all of you to belong to Him

It will be easier for you to bring him around to where you want him more by gentleness and patience than by being too uncompromising.

It seems to me that the best way will be the one that is most gentle and forbearing, which is more in conformity with the Spirit of Our Lord and more apt to win hearts.

...a great good is worth being long desired.

Do not be afraid of undertaking too much of what you can do without coming and going; but fear only the thought of doing more than you are doing and more than God is giving you the means to do.

You can give me no greater consolation nor render greater service to your neighbor than to place yourself in a condition to serve him for a long time

In the name of God, Monsieur, let us not be so little attached to God's service that we yield to a useless fear which may cause us to abandon the task He has given us.

Nevertheless, when one is ill, one should be submissive to the doctor and obey him.

God's affairs are accomplished gradually and almost imperceptibly and His spirit is neither violent nor tempestuous.

...Omit nothing which can advance his work, and not blame others for the delay.

Experience teaches that what is feasible at the beginning is sometimes harmful as things go on, or subject to troublesome inconveniences

[W]isdom consists in following Providence step by step. And you can be sure of the truth of a maxim which seems paradoxical, namely, that he who is hasty falls back in the interests of God.

Far from being a bad thing to seek advice, you must, on the contrary, do so when the matter is of any importance, or when we cannot come to a clear decision on our own.

It will be most pleasing to O[ur] L[ord] if you husband your strength in order to serve Him better.

I would rather him to bear patiently with it than to put himself in danger of a greater evil.

God has granted me today a very particular fondness for requesting of Him that same virtue of ever choosing the worst and that which is contrary to my own liking.

A man who behaves poorly in a Community will not do well in a parish.

If you think something should be done, take the trouble to write to me about it, and together we will decide the time and manner of doing it.

Is it not better to fail after asking advice than to risk acting on our own?

If you no longer have any income, you will not be neglected-you will not starve to death. . . . We panic at first, but God does not always allow the evil that is feared to happen.

We must hold as an irrefutable maxim that the difficulties we have with our neighbor arise more from our immortified moods than from anything else.

. . . in the final analysis, virtue is not found in extremes, but in prudence . . .

[N]or should you move so fast! The works of God do not proceed in that way; they come about of themselves, and those He does not create soon perish.

Would that God, Monsieur, had rendered us worthy of spending our lives, as Our Lord did, for the salvation of those poor souls so far removed from all assistance.

There are some persons who are content with everything and others who are scarcely content with anything. These latter need patience to bear with themselves.

I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do.

O Monsieur de Sergis, how important a matter is submission of spirit to a superior!

So, we pray well when we remain in this way in the presence of God, with no exertion of the understanding or will. Therefore, you will do well to listen to God in the urge you feel to return to us.

Three can do more than ten when Our Lord puts His hand to things, and He always does so when He takes away the means of doing otherwise.

He is greatly honored by the time we take to weigh with mature deliberation matters having to do with his service, as are all those with which we deal.

In a word, we owe obedience to the bishops in all things pertaining to our work in the missions, with ordinands, etc., but the spiritual and internal direction belongs to the Superior General.

The angels would become incarnate if they could, so that they might come to earth to imitate the example and virtues of the Son of God!

With whose imperfections will you bear, and what insult are you capable of enduring, if a thoughtless word from your own Superior is unbearable?

Go to the poor: you will find God.

Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.

THE MAIN DUTY OF LAW enforcement is law breaking. Right now the disciplined forces jobs are the reserve of the ‘elite’ and security has little meaning, money is the arbiter of law breaking.