Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.
– Francis de Sales
Humility
Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.
– Francis de Sales
Angels | Helping
You learn to love by loving.
– Francis de Sales
Love
Faith fills a man with love for the beauty of its truth, with faith in the truth of its beauty.
– Francis de Sales
Faith | Beauty
There was never an angry man that thought his anger unjust.
– Francis de Sales
Anger
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.
– Francis de Sales
Patience | Perseverance
A quarrel between friends, when made up, adds a new tie to friendship. Be who you are and be that well.
– Francis de Sales
Friendship | Forgiveness | Quarreling
A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.
– Francis de Sales
Truth
There are no galley-slaves in the royal vessel of divine love – every man works his oar voluntarily!
– Francis de Sales
Love
When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.
– Francis de Sales
Adversity | Gentleness
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
– Francis de Sales
Perseverance
True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.
– Francis de Sales
Perseverance
While I am busy with little things, I am not required to do greater things.
– Francis de Sales
Achievement
Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved.
– Francis de Sales
Love
Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.
– Francis de Sales
Friendship
We cannot help conforming ourselves to what we love.
– Francis de Sales
Love
We must never undervalue any person. The workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence. Now God is present everywhere, and every person is His work.
– Francis de Sales
Encouragement | Work
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not What a lovely sermon, but, I will do something!
– Francis de Sales
Preaching | Inspiration
Nothing is more like a wise man than a fool who holds his tongue.
– Francis de Sales
Character | Foolishness | The Tongue
Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.
– Francis de Sales
Virtue
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.
– Francis de Sales
Character | Gentleness | Strength