A few quotes from my collection:
My trust in God has nothing to do with the fact that I am good. My trust springs from faith in the goodness and mercy of God that is total and unconditional. God has loved me first. God’s love is not a reward for my good behavior. Thérèse of Lisieux, Little Way
I have marveled at the depth of his wisdom when my secret faults have been revealed and made visible; at the very slightest amendment of my way of life I have experienced his goodness and mercy; in the renewal and remaking of the spirit of my mind, that is, of my inmost being, I have perceived the excellence of his glorious beauty, and when I contemplate all these things I am filled with awe and wonder at his manifold greatness. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon Seventy-Four, On the Song of Songs, vol. 4
In all these passages the decisive requirement is the same: the good which is to be done is to be done completely. He who does it partially, with reservations, just enough to fulfill the outward regulation, has not done it at all. Rudolph Karl Bultmann, Jesus and the Word
He ceases to argue about God who has found God within. Relying upon that calm strength which is not the strength of self, he lives God, manifesting in his daily life the highest goodness, which is eternal life. James Allen
An instant of pure love is more precious in the sight of God and more profitable to the Church than all other good works put together, though it may seem as if nothing were done. . . . Let those men of zeal who think by their preaching and exterior works to convert the world, consider that they would be much more pleasing to God — to say nothing of the example they would give — if they would spend at least one-half of their time in prayer, even though they may not have attained to unitive love. Certainly they would do more, and with less trouble, by one single good work than by a thousand; because of the merit of their prayer, and the spiritual strength which it supplies. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle & Poems
I feel that we too often focus only on the negative aspect of life — on what is bad. If we were more willing to see the good and the beautiful things that surround us, we would be able to transform our families. From there, we would change our next-door-neighbors and then others who live in our neighborhood or city. We would be able to bring peace and love to our world, which hungers so much for these things. Mother Teresa, No Greater Love
Let us be very sincere in our dealings with each other and have the courage to accept each other as we are. Do not be surprised or become preoccupied at each other’s failure; rather see and find the good in each other, for each one of us is created in the image of God. Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore, let us be extremely patient with each other’s faults and failures. Mother Teresa, No Greater Love
Use your tongue for the good of others, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. We have to possess before we can give. Those who have the mission of giving to others must grow first in the knowledge of God. Mother Teresa, No Greater Love
The useful and the useless must, like good and evil generally, go on together, and man must make his choice. Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers
