Oh, how I like those little mortifications that are seen by nobody, such as rising a quarter of an hour sooner, rising for a little while in the night to pray!
Interpretation
Small acts of self-discipline lead to greater spiritual growth.
In this quote, John Vianney reflects on the importance of small, unnoticed sacrifices that contribute to personal growth and spiritual development. He emphasizes that seemingly trivial acts, like waking up early or praying at night, can significantly enhance one's character and devotion, despite going unnoticed by others.
In practice
During a motivational speech about personal growth and discipline.
Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.
We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived, we are sad. I remark that in a great many people; if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that - they were vexed if their virtues were known, and pleased that their imperfections should be seen.
You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.
The noblest revenge is to forgive
Indeed I do not think we should be justified in using any but the more sombre tones and colours while our people, our Empire, and indeed the whole English-speaking world are passing through a dark and deadly valley.
He who acknowledges a kindness has it still, and he who has a grateful sense of it has requited it.
To write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers pay within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.
Your days pass like rainbows, like a flash of lightning, like a star at dawn. Your life is short. How can you quarrel?
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