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Mankind, by the perverse depravity of their nature, esteem that which they have most desired as of no value the moment it is possessed, and torment themselves with fruitless wishes for that which is beyond their reach.

Francois Fenelon

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Francois Fenelon
Age: 63 †
Born: 1651
Born: August 6
Died: 1715
Died: January 7
Catholic Priest
Clergyman
Cleric
Philosopher
Poet
Theologian
Writer
François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
Fénelon
Phenelon
Franz von Fenelon
Francis Fenelon
abbé de Fénélon
François Fénelon
François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon
Beyond
Desired
Values
Torment
Moment
Wishes
Wish
Possessed
Moments
Esteem
Nature
Reach
Fruitless
Value
Depravity
Mankind
Perverse

More quotes by Francois Fenelon

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The youth who, like a woman, loves to adorn his person, has renounced all claim to wisdom and to glory glory is due to those only who dare to associate with pain, and have trampled pleasure under their feet.
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I am not in the least surprised that your impression of death becomes more lively, in proportion as age and infirmity bring it nearer. God makes use of this rough trial to undeceive us in respect to our courage, to make us feel our weakness, and to keep us in all humility in His hands.
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Our piety must be weak and imperfect if it do not conquer our fear of death.
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Do we accustom ourselves to see all things in the light of faith? Do we correct all our judgments by it? Alas! The greater part of Christians think and act like mere heathens if we judge (as we justly may) of their faith by their practice, we must conclude they have no faith at all.
Francois Fenelon
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Genuine good taste consists in saying much in few words, in choosing among our thoughts, in having order and arrangement in what we say, and in speaking with composure.
Francois Fenelon
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The passion of acquiring riches in order to support a vain expense corrupts the purest souls.
Francois Fenelon
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How rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak.
Francois Fenelon
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Nothing is more despicable than a professional talker who uses his words as a quack uses his remedies
Francois Fenelon
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Real friends are our greatest joy and our greatest sorrow. It were almost to be wished that all true and faithful friends should expire on the same day.
Francois Fenelon
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There is never any peace for those who resist God.
Francois Fenelon
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To will everything that God wills, and to will it always, in all circumstances and without reservations: that is the kingdom of God which is entirely within.
Francois Fenelon
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God has not chosen to save us without crosses as He has not seen fit to create men at once in the full vigor of manhood, but has suffered them to grow up by degrees amid all the perils and weaknesses of youth.
Francois Fenelon
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There is nothing that is more dangerous to your own salvation, more unworthy of God and more harmful to your own happiness, than that you should be content to remain as you are.
Francois Fenelon
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No human power can force the intrenchments of the human mind: compulsion never persuades it only makes hypocrites.
Francois Fenelon
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A cross borne in simplicity, without the interference of self-love to augment it, is only half a cross. Suffering in this simplicity of love, we are not only happy in spile of the cross, but because of it for love is pleased in suffering for the Well Beloved, and the cross which forms us into His image is a consoling bond of love.
Francois Fenelon
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Speak, move, act in peace, as if you were in prayer. In truth, this is prayer.
Francois Fenelon
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The greater our dread of crosses, the more necessary they are for us.
Francois Fenelon
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There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow with a generous self-abandonment every thing which He requires.
Francois Fenelon
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Above all, live in the present moment and God will give you all the grace you need.
Francois Fenelon
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We are not to choose the manner in which our blessings shall be bestowed.
Francois Fenelon