Francois Fenelon

It is better to die than to tell a lie

— Francois Fenelon

Good taste rejects excessive nicety.

— Francois Fenelon

Speak, move, act in peace...

— Francois Fenelon

Those who are wholly God's are always happy.

— Francois Fenelon

Little opportunities should be improved.

— Francois Fenelon

I no longer desire anything but to be Thine.

— Francois Fenelon

Pity enlarges the heart.

— Francois Fenelon

Were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.

— Francois Fenelon

Simplicity is that grace which frees the soul from all unnecessary reflections upon itself.

— Francois Fenelon

When kings interfere in matters of religion, they enslave instead of protecting it.

— Francois Fenelon

Temptations are a file which rub off much of the rust of our self-confidence.

— Francois Fenelon

Oh! how seldom the soul is silent, in order that God may speak.

— Francois Fenelon

All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.

— Francois Fenelon

Discouragement is simply the despair of wounded self-love.

— Francois Fenelon

The passion of acquiring riches in order to support a vain expense corrupts the purest souls.

— Francois Fenelon

The realization of God's presence is the one sovereign remedy against temptation.

— Francois Fenelon

All wars are civil ones; for it is still man spilling his own blood, tearing out his own bowels.

— Francois Fenelon

No human power can force the intrenchments of the human mind: compulsion never persuades; it only makes hypocrites.

— Francois Fenelon

In the light of eternity we shall see that what we desired would have been fatal to us, and that what we…

— Francois Fenelon

If the crowns of all the kingdoms of the empire were laid down at my feet in exchange for my books and…

— Francois Fenelon

How desirable is this simplicity! Who will give it to me? I will quit all else; it is the pearl of great…

— Francois Fenelon

Children are excellent observers, and will often perceive your slightest defects. In general, those who govern children, forgive nothing in them, but…

— Francois Fenelon

Nothing will make us so charitable and tender to the faults of others, as, by self-examination, thoroughly to know our own.

— Francois Fenelon

We must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must bear with their imperfections, correct them with gentleness and patience,…

— Francois Fenelon

There is no true and constant gentleness without humility. While we are so fond of ourselves, we are easily offended with others.…

— Francois Fenelon

If we were faultless, we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate. If we…

— Francois Fenelon

Nothing is more false and more indiscreet than always to want to choose what mortifies us in everything. By this rule a…

— Francois Fenelon

As a general rule, those truths which we highly relish, and which shed a degree of practical light upon the things which…

— Francois Fenelon

There are two principal points of attention necessary for the preservation of this constant spirit of prayer which unites us with God;…

— Francois Fenelon

Despondency is not a state of humility; on the contrary, it is the vexation and despair of a cowardly pride--nothing is worse;…

— Francois Fenelon

God has not chosen to save us without crosses; as He has not seen fit to create men at once in the…

— Francois Fenelon

People who have no secrets from each other never want for a subject of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for…

— Francois Fenelon

I had often heard Mentor say, that the voluptuous were never brave, and I now found by experience that it was true;…

— Francois Fenelon

“Let the water flow beneath the bridge; let men be men, that is to say, weak, vain, inconstant, unjust, false, and presumptuous;…

— François Fénelon

We must have faith during the period of our grief. We think that our afflictions will be greater than we can bear,…

— Francois Fenelon

On this earth all is temptation. Crosses tempt us by irritating our pride, and prosperity by flattering it. Our life is a…

— Francois Fenelon

Simplicity brings back the joys of Paradise. Not that we have pure pleasure without a moment's suffering, but when we are surrendered…

— Francois Fenelon

“Those who correct others should watch for the Holy Spirit to go ahead of them and touch a person's heart. Learn to…

— Francois Fenelon

Commit yourself then to God! He will be your guide. He Himself will travel with you, as we are told He did…

— Francois Fenelon

True prayer is only another name for the love of God. Its excellence does not consist in the multitude of our words;…

— Francois Fenelon