All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.
Saint Teresa of Avila

Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.
Saint Teresa of Avila

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.
Saint Teresa of Avila

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person.
Saint Teresa of Avila

I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.
Saint Teresa of Avila

It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found - not hidden away in corners but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater.
Saint Teresa of Avila

O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it.
Saint Teresa of Avila

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.
Saint Teresa of Avila

Pain is never permanent.
Saint Teresa of Avila

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.
Saint Teresa of Avila


The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.
Saint Teresa of Avila

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.
Saint Teresa of Avila

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.
Saint Teresa of Avila

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.
Saint Teresa of Avila

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.
Saint Teresa of Avila