Teresa of Ávila Quotes

134 Sourced Quotes

O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it.

Teresa of Ávila
It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found - not hidden away in corners but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater.

Teresa of Ávila
We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.

Teresa of Ávila
Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.

Teresa of Ávila
To have courage for whatever comes in life — everything lies in that.

Teresa of Ávila
People in the world pay little heed to reason where their own interests are involved.

Teresa of Ávila
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 Ávila
So dearly does His Majesty love us that He will reward our love for our neighbor by increasing the love which we bear to Himself, and that in a thousand ways.

Teresa of Ávila
I feared them so little, that the terrors, which until now oppressed me, quitted me altogether; and though I saw them occasionally, — I shall speak of this by and by, — I was never again afraid of them — on the contrary, they seemed to be afraid of me. I found myself endowed with a certain authority over them, given me by the Lord of all, so that I cared no more for them than for flies. They seem to be such cowards; for their strength fails them at the sight of any one who despises them. These enemies have not the courage to assail any but those whom they see ready to give in to them, or when God permits them to do so, for the greater good of His servants, whom they may try and torment.

Teresa of Ávila
I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle made of a single diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

Teresa of Ávila
Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee:
All thing pass;
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

Teresa of Ávila
My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and compassion for the sick, and also for servants; so much so, that he never could be persuaded to keep slaves, for he pitied them so much: and a slave belonging to one of his brothers being once in his house, was treated by him with as much tenderness as his own children.

Teresa of Ávila
Christ does not force our will, He only takes what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him.

Teresa of Ávila
Satan would fly away before such realities, as from the plague. He is the friend of lies, and a lie himself. He will have nothing to do with those who walk in the truth.

Teresa of Ávila
It is impossible for human tongue to exaggerate the riches which a vision from God brings to the soul: it even bestows health and refreshment on the body.

Teresa of Ávila
For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.

Teresa of Ávila
God deliver me from people who are so spiritual that they want to turn everything into perfect contemplation, come what may.

Teresa of Ávila
How is it, Lord, that we are cowards in everything save in opposing thee?

Teresa of Ávila
Souls who do not practice prayer are like people whose limbs are paralyzed.

Teresa of Ávila
I have often thought with wonder of the great goodness of God; and my soul has rejoiced in the contemplation of His great magnificence and mercy. May He be blessed for ever! For I see clearly that He has not omitted to reward me, even in this life, for every one of my good desires.

Teresa of Ávila