Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Saint Vincent de Paul

French Priest of the Catholic Church dedicated to serving the poor

"It is not easy to find perfect men in whom there is nothing to criticize."

"It is not light they need but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example."

"It is the maxim of the saints that when a matter has been decided in the presence of God after many prayers and the seeking of advice, we must reject and consider as a temptation whatever is suggested to the contrary."

"It is true that zeal is the soul of the virtues, but most certainly, Monsieur, it must be according to knowledge, as Saint Paul says; that means: according to knowledge of experience. And because young people ordinarily do not possess this experiential knowledge, their zeal goes to excess, especially in those who have a natural asperity."

"It is true you have great reason to distrust yourself; but you have still greater reason to trust in him. If you are inclined to evil, you know that he is incomparably much more inclined to do good, and to do good in and by you. I beg you to make your prayer on this, and during the day to make some elevations of your soul to God, imploring his grace so as to establish you firmly in this principle, so that having cast your eyes on your miseries, you may afterwards ever raise them to his mercies, pausing for a much longer time upon his munificence in your regard than on your own unworthiness in his sight, and much more upon his strength than upon your own weakness, throwing yourself, when you see this, into his fatherly arms in the hope that he will work in you what he asks of you, and that he will bless all you do for his sake. With this, Sir, keep your heart ever ready to receive the peace and joy of the Holy Ghost."

"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."

"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 will be most pleasing to Our Lord if you husband your strength in order to serve Him better."

"Just as stinginess is blameworthy so is the fault of facility in paying more for things than they are worth ."

"Laws must never be made compatible with crimes, no more than lying should be in harmony with the truth."

"Let us allow God to act; He brings things to completion when we least expect it."

"Let us be submissive to Providence, He will see to our affairs in His own time and in His own way"

"Let us believe that all is going along the best in the world when we take no satisfaction in it, provided we humble ourselves for this and redouble our confidence in God."

"Let us love God my brothers, let us love God. But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow."

"Let us reflect that we shall always do God's Will and He will do ours when we carry out that of our Superiors."

"Let us work to rid ourselves of our attacks of over-zealousness especially when it offends against respect, esteem, and charity."

"Lord, help me to make time today to serve you in those who are most in need of encouragement or assistance."

"Love is inventive to infinity."

"Make an effort to serve good bread and good meat and not to sell the better wine so as to serve what is inferior."

"Man's condition is never the same; he is humbled, then exalted; sometimes at peace, sometimes persecuted; enlightened today and plunged into darkness tomorrow. What is to be done? As I said, let us be prepared for whatever may happen."

"May God be pleased to make it known to you, and fill you increasingly with His Spirit, so that through you it may be poured into the souls you guide, and your own soul may be more greatly sanctified!"

"May the Divine Goodness, the source and fountain-head of true union, grant you the grace to avoid all the evils caused by disunion, and may God, for His own glory, ever keep you in perfect union with Himself and with your neighbor by true charity."

"May the Holy Spirit pour forth into your hearts the lights of which you stand in need that a great fervor may be enkindled in them, that you may be faithful to, and in love with, the practice of all those virtues so that you may, for the glory of God, esteem your vocation at its true value, and love it in such a way that you may persevere therein for the remainder of your life, serving the poor in a spirit of humility, obedience, suffering and charity and may you be ever blessed."

"May you be more advanced in the school of solid virtue, which is practiced in an excellent way in the midst of suffering, and which keeps good servants of God in fear when they have nothing to suffer!"

"Monsieur, how I wish you would moderate your ardor and examine matters thoroughly before making any decision on them! Be acted upon rather than active. In this way, God will do through you alone what all men put together could not do without him."

"Most people offend God by passing judgment on the things others do, especially important people, not knowing the reasons why they are doing what they do; for when one does not know the primary cause of some matter, what conclusions can he draw from it?"

"Naturally, everyone is disheartened by sharp reprimands, and by the most amiable corrections as well, if they are frequent, immoderate, or given inappropriately."

"Naturally, everyone loves his freedom, but we must beware of this as of a broad road that leads to perdition."

"Nature makes trees put down deep roots before having them bear fruit, and even this is done gradually."

"Never betray His principles for any reason whatsoever, and take great care not to spoil God's affairs by too much haste in them."

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

"Nor 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."

"Oh! how happy the man of means who uses his wealth and his life for the greater glory of God, from whom he has received them!"

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

"One beautiful diamond is worth more than a mountain of stones, and one virtuous act of acquiescence and submission is better than an abundance of good works done for others."

"One must be firm and unchanging with regard to the end but gentle and humble as to the means."

"Ordinarily, God allows these things i.e. evil suggestions and wickedness to happen to free us from some hidden pride and to engender in us holy humility."

"Our Lord and the saints accomplished more by suffering than by acting."

"Our Lord humbles in order to raise up, and allows the suffering of interior and exterior afflictions in order to bring about peace. He often desires some things more than we do, but wants us to merit the grace of accomplishing them by several practices of virtue and to beg for this with many prayers."

"Our Lord is pleased to deprive us of temporal goods; may it please His Divine Goodness to give us spiritual ones!"

"Outpourings of affection for God, of resting in his presence, of good feelings toward everyone and sentiments and prayers like these ... are suspect if they do not express themselves in practical love which has real effects."

"Peace is never so complete that we may not have something to suffer. . . . Since it is impossible to please all of those you serve, they offer you the occasion for practices which increase your merit in the measure that you make them meritorious by your patience."

"Peace is worth far more than anything they might take from you."

"Peace is worth more than all worldly possessions; in addition, God rewards it even in this life."

"People are made in such a way that even the holiest ones are liable to offend one another."

"Perfection consists in a constant perseverance to acquire the virtues and become proficient in their practice, because on God's road, not to advance is to fall back since man never remains in the same condition."

"Persons who love very much, easily take offense at trifles. No doubt your excessive affection for me makes you a little diffident about mine. But there is no harm done; I hope you will soon be over this slight jealousy and be convinced that nothing can change the genuine affection Our Lord has given me for you"

"Practice humility and patience."

"Practice teaching catechism and preaching. Missionaries must apply themselves to these tasks and although they do not accomplish them as successfully as others do, according to the opinion of men, it must be enough for them that they are doing the Will of God and perhaps producing more real fruit."

"Present misfortune presupposes good luck in the future."