To have a grievance is to have a purpose in life.
Many of the insights of the saint stem from his experience as a sinner.
The greatest weariness comes from work not done.
The savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets.
The game of history is usually played by the best and the worst over the heads of the majority in the middle.
Faith is primarily a process of identification the process by which the individual ceases to be himself and becomes part of something eternal.
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
Treasure the memories of past misfortunes they constitute our bank of fortitude.
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and turns into a racket.
The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a god or not.
When we believe ourselves in possession of the only truth, we are likely to be indifferent to common everyday truths.
It is remarkable by how much a pinch of malice enhances the penetrating power of an idea or an opinion. Our ears, it seems, are wonderfully attuned to sneers and evil reports about our fellow men.
Take away hatred from some people, and you have men without faith.
To know a person's religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance.
In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous...
Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain whether of our worth or worthlessness we are almost impervious to fear. Thus a feeling of utter unworthiness can be a source of courage.
We are least open to precise knowledge concerning the things we are most vehement about.
Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy - the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation.
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains.