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.
Gratitude is a nice touch of beauty added last of all to the countenance. Giving a classic beauty, an angelic loveliness, to the character.
I never allowed other people's expectations to determine whatever course I took. I had to reach a decision about what I was going to do based on what I felt inside myself.
In vain I have looked for a single man capable of seeing his own faults and bringing the charge home against himself.
You cannot get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have the facts, you cannot make proper judgments about what is going on.
Wisdom makes a slow defense against trouble, though a sure one in the end.
It is remarkable that when great discoveries are effected, their simplicity always seems to detract from their originality: on these occasions we are reminded of the egg of Columbus!
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