Authority Quote by Vincent de Paul
“Use gentle methods to get whatever good you can from priests and monks who are slaves, as well as from merchants and captives. Resort to severe measures only in extreme cases, for fear lest the hardship they are already enduring in their state of captivity, joined to the strictness you might want to exercise in virtue of your authority, drive them to despair. . . . It is not light they need, but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Little Manual of the Poor, 1633
Advocates gentle persuasion over harsh punishment, reserving severity for dire situations to avoid crushing hope.
In simple terms: Use kindness first, harshness only when essential.
Key Takeaway
Apply compassion, reserve force for emergencies.
Themes
compassion
authority
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
practical
When to use this quote
- prison reform
- religious guidance
- conflict resolution
- social work
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
leadership
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- When is force truly necessary?
- How can kindness be maintained under pressure?
A Different Perspective
Harsh measures can still cause lasting trauma if misapplied.
![“. . . . [P]ersons 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…” quote by Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/570/vincent-de-paul-1676_affection_p-ersons-who-love-very-much-easily-take_52639.jpg)
![“[I]f the gentleness of your spirit needs a dash of vinegar, borrow a little from Our Lord's spirit. O Mademoiselle, how well He knew how to find a bittersweet remark when it is needed!” quote by Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/546/vincent-de-paul-1676_bittersweet_i-f-the-gentleness-of-your-spirit-needs_81360.jpg)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)