François Fénelon Quotes

63 Sourced Quotes

We may be sure that it is the love of God only that can make us come out of self. If His powerful hand did not sustain us, we should not know how to take the first step in that direction.

François Fénelon
Here it is that the Spirit teaches us all truth; for all truth is eminently contained in this sacrifice of love, where the soul strips itself of every thing to present it to God.

François Fénelon
In the light of eternity we shall see that what we desired would have been fatal to us, and that what we would have avoided was essential to our well-being.

François Fénelon
The greatest defect of common education is, that we are in the habit of putting pleasure all on one side, and weariness on the other; all weariness in study, all pleasure in idleness.

François Fénelon
If we had strength and faith enough to trust ourselves entirely to God, and follow Him simply wherever He should lead us, we should have no need of any great effort of mind to reach perfection.

François Fénelon
In general, those who govern children forgive nothing in them, but everything in themselves.

François Fénelon
Nothing will make us so tender and indulgent to the faults of others as a view of our own.

François Fénelon
All wars are civil ones; for it is still man spilling his own blood, tearing out his own bowels.

François Fénelon
We sleep in peace in the arms of God when we yield ourselves up to His providence, in a delightful consciousness of His tender mercies; no more restless uncertainties, no more anxious desires, no more impatience at the place we are in, for it is God who has put us there, and who holds us in His arms. Can we be unsafe where He has placed us, and where He watches over us as a parent watches a child? This confiding repose, in which earthly care sleeps, is the true vigilance of the heart; yielding itself up to God, with no other support than Him, it thus watches while we sleep. This is the love of Him that will not sleep even in death.

François Fénelon
Do not allow yourself to be bewitched by the diabolical attractions of geometry.

François Fénelon
If there is any thing that can render the soul calm, dissipate its scruples, and dispel its fears, sweeten its sufferings by the anointing of love, impart strength to it in all its actions, and spread abroad the joy of the Holy Spirit in its countenance and words, it is a simple, free, and child-like repose in the arms of God.

François Fénelon
How many languish in obscurity, who would become great if emulation and encouragement incited them to exertion!

François Fénelon
God never makes us sensible of our weakness except to give us of His strength.

François Fénelon