Saint Quotes by Teresa of Ávila

God, deliver me from sullen saints.

— Teresa of Avila

For pity's sake, don't start meeting troubles halfway.

— Teresa of Avila

Truth suffers, but never dies.

— Teresa of Avila

I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me.

— Teresa of Avila

I am afraid that if we begin to put our trust in human help, some of our Divine help will fail us.

— Teresa of Avila

Blessed be He, Who came into the world for no other purpose than to suffer.

— Teresa of Avila

In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.

— Teresa of Avila

We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to look upon Him present within us.

— Teresa of Avila

“It is a great advantage for us to be able to consult someone who knows us, so that we may learn to…

— Teresa of Ávila

We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials.

— Teresa of Avila

If we practice love of neighbor with great perfection, we will have done everything.

— Teresa of Avila

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how…

— Teresa of Avila

Vocal prayer . . . must be accompanied by reflection. A prayer in which a person is not aware of Whom he…

— Teresa of Avila

Christ does not force our will, He only takes what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He…

— Teresa of Avila

It is certain that the love of God does not consist in this sweetness and tenderness which we for the most part…

— Teresa of Avila

Everything seems to me to pass so quickly that we must concentrate on how to die rather than on how to live.…

— Teresa of Avila

His Majesty [the Lord] . . . rewards great services with trials, and there can be no better reward, for out of…

— Teresa of Avila

We should blush for shame to show so much resentment at what is done or said against us, knowing that so many…

— Teresa of Avila

Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, Who…

— Teresa of Avila

The most potent and acceptable prayer is the prayer that leaves the best effects. I don't mean it must immediately fill the…

— Teresa of Avila

Before prayer, endeavour to realise Whose Presence you are approaching and to Whom you are about to speak, keeping in mind Whom…

— Teresa of Avila

One must not think that a person who is suffering is not praying. He is offering up his sufferings to God, and…

— Teresa of Avila

Anyone who has the habit of speaking before God's majesty as if he were speaking to a slave, careless about how he…

— Teresa of Avila

That is how His Majesty [the Lord] rewards our good works---I mean, by predisposing us to perform better ones.

— Teresa of Avila

If this is the way You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few!

— Teresa of Avila

There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge…

— Teresa of Avila

How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.

— Teresa of Avila

Jacob did not cease to be a Saint because he had to attend to his flocks.

— Teresa of Avila

It is a great folly to be willing to violate the friendship of God, rather than the law of human friendship.

— Teresa of Avila

Mental prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him.

— Teresa of Avila

May I not come before You with empty hands, since we are rewarded according to our deeds.

— Teresa of Avila

From silly devotions and from sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us.

— Teresa of Avila

Don't imagine that, if you had a great deal of time, you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of…

— Teresa of Avila

Ah, how true it is that we love ourselves too much and proceed with too much human prudence, that we may not…

— Teresa of Avila

The saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to…

— Teresa of Avila

Before prayer, endeavor to realize whose Presence you are approaching, and to whom you are about to speak. We can never fully…

— Teresa of Avila

Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such…

— Teresa of Avila

Let him never cease from prayer who has once begun it, be his life ever so wicked; for prayer is the way…

— Teresa of Avila