Quotes from Francis de Sales

We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our freedom.

Friendship requires great communication.

Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.

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 -

Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.

Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.

Faith is like a bright ray of sun light. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.

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.

Do not wish to be anything except what you are.

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.