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The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.

Teresa of Avila

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Teresa of Avila
Humility
Gives
Tree
Water
Running
Giving
Fresher
Beside
Fruit

More quotes by Teresa of Avila

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Keep this in mind, for it is very important advice, so do not neglect it until you find you have such a fixed determination not to offend the Lord that you would rather lose a thousand lives and be persecuted by the whole world, than commit one mortal sin, and until you are most careful not to commit venial sins.
Teresa of Avila
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In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.
Teresa of Avila
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What misery to live in this world! We are like men whose enemies are at the door, who must not lay aside their arms, even while sleeping or eating, and are always in dread lest the foe should enter the fortress by some breach in the walls. O my Lord and my all! How canst thou wish us to prize such a wretched existence?
Teresa of Avila
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For, as I said a little way back, perfect souls are in no way repelled by trials, but rather desire them and pray for them and love them. They are like soldiers: the more wars there are, the better they are pleased, because they hope to emerge from them with the greater riches.
Teresa of Avila
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Let us look at our own faults, and not other people's. We ought not to insist on everyone following in our footsteps, nor to take upon ourselves to give instructions in spirituality when, perhaps, we do not even know what it is.
Teresa of Avila
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I had a father and mother, who were devout and feared God. Our Lord also helped me with His grace. All this would have been enough to make me good, if I had not been so wicked.
Teresa of Avila
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The life of the spirit is not our life, but the life of God within us.
Teresa of Avila
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It is a dangerous thing to be satisfied with ourselves.
Teresa of Avila
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Whenever conscience commands anything, there is only one thing to fear, and that is fear.
Teresa of Avila
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Love turns work into rest.
Teresa of Avila
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Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people's, if we are always criticizing trivial actions - which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.
Teresa of Avila
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Mental prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him.
Teresa of Avila
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Let there be no disappointment when obedience keeps you busy in outward tasks. If it sends you to the kitchen, remember that the Lord walks among the pots and pans.
Teresa of Avila
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If we do not use great care to mortify our will, there are many things which can deprives us of the holy freedom of spirit that we are seeking in order to fly more freely to our Creator, without always being bogged down with the clay of this earth. Moreover, there can never be solid virtue in a soul that is attached to its own will.
Teresa of Avila
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The surest way to determine whether one possesses the love of God is to see whether he or she loves his or her neighbor. These two loves are never separated. Rest assured, the more you progress in love of neighbor the more your love of God will increase.
Teresa of Avila
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It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.
Teresa of Avila
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Whenever we think of Christ, we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him.
Teresa of Avila
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Discontent with this world gives such a painful longing to quit it that, if the heart finds comfort, it is solely from the thought that God wishes it to remain here in banishment.
Teresa of Avila
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The true penance comes when God takes away the soul's health and strength for doing penance. Even though I have mentioned elsewhere the great pain this lack causes, the pain is much more intense here. All these things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.
Teresa of Avila
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How is it that we do not die of love in seeing that God Himself could do no more than shed His divine blood for us drop by drop? When as man He was preparing for death, He made Himself our food in order to give us life. God becomes food, bread for his creatures. Is this not enough to make us die of love?
Teresa of Avila