I really believed that the priests were acquainted with my thoughts; and often stood in great awe of them. They often told me they had power to strike me dead at any moment.

My parents were both from Scotland, but had been resident in Lower Canada some time before their marriage, which took place in Montreal; and in that city I spent most of my life.

The Bishop, as I have remarked, was not very dignified on all occasions, and sometimes acted in such a manner as would not have appeared well in public.

A number of girls of my acquaintance went to school to the nuns of the Congregational Nunnery, or Sisters of Charity, as they are sometimes called.

The manufacture of wax candles was another important branch of business in the nunnery.

We were constantly hearing it repeated, that we must never again look upon ourselves as our own; but must remember, that we were solemnly and irrevocably devoted to God.

I often remembered also that I had been told, that we shall have as many devils biting us, if we go to hell, as we have unconfessed sins on our consciences.

I have, I think, afforded every opportunity that could be reasonably expected, to judge of my credibility.

Standing near the door, we dipped our fingers in the holy water, crossed and blessed ourselves, and proceeded up to the sleeping-room, in the usual order, two by two.

So far as I know, there were no pains taken to preserve secrecy on this subject; that is, I saw no attempt made to keep any of the inmates of the Convent in ignorance of the murder of children.

Others too would occasionally entertain and privately express such doubts; though we all had been most solemnly warned by the cruel murder of Saint Francis.

I've had great success and I've had catastrophic failure. It's really how you handle the rough stuff that defines you, I think.

All experience is great providing you live through it. If it kills you, you've gone too far.

Reflect upon your present blessings

You are going to be what you put in your body, so I try to teach that to my kids, and the kids around me.

To my way of thinking, the American family started to decline when parents began to communicate with their children.

From the time we're born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and coconspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales.

Can you imagine the impact on our own culture if American Christians began using their riches as if they belonged to God?

Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.

Family was a fertile breeding ground for the kind of psychological bacteria that warped minds and devoured hope.

I felt fine after 24 hours and asked the state commission to prolong my stay in space to three days. And I carried out the entire schedule. Could I have done that if I had been half-dead?