Francis de Sales Quotes

There are no better cosmetics than a severe temperance and purity, modesty and humility, a gracious temper and calmness of spirit; and there is no true beauty without the signatures of these graces in the very countenance.

Meekness is one of the brightest graces which can adorn the Christian character.

Modesty and humility are the sobriety of the mind, as temperance and chastity are of the body.

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

The unassuming youth seeking instruction with humility gains good fortune.

Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot.

Being humble and sweet is the hardest thing you can do.

The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly.

He that places himself neither higher nor lower than he ought to do exercises the truest humility.

So many things--nay every real thing--is good if only it will be humble and ordinate.

Virtuous persons and fruit-laden trees bow, but fools and dry sticks break because they do not bend.

The superior man is never in anyone's way.

The grace that makes every grace amiable is humility.

It's wiser being good than bad; It's safer being meek than fierce: It's fitter being sane than mad.

Humility makes our lives acceptable to God, meekness makes us acceptable to men.

With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour.

Exercise humility and restraint.

There are few instances of the exercise of particular virtues which seem harder to attain to, or which appear more amiable and engaging in themselves, than those of moderation and the forgiveness of injuries.

Humility is royalty without a crown.

There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.

1) Temperance... drink not to elevation. (2) Silence... avoid trifling conversations. (3) Order: Let all your things have their places... (4) Resolution... perform without fail what you resolve. (5) Frugality... i.e. waste nothing. (6) Industry: Lose no time; be always employ'd... (7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently... (8) Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries... (9) Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting... (10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body... (11) Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles... (12) Chastity (13) Humility : Imitate Jesus.

I understood, by dint of digging into my memories, that modesty helped me to shine, humility helped me to triumph and virtue to oppress.

A patient, humble temper gathers blessings that are marred by the peevish and overlooked by the aspiring.

I have the virtue of being still amongst the living. Some would say that is my only virtue.