Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer citations

“J'en suis de plus en plus persuadé : le bonheur du ciel est pour ceux qui savent vivre heureux sur la terre.”

“À notre époque aussi, et en dépit de ceux qui nient Dieu, la terre est tout près du ciel.”

“Avec la grâce de Dieu, tu dois entreprendre et réaliser l'impossible…, parce que ce qui est possible, tout le monde le fait.”

“Le chasteté — celle que chacun vit selon son état : célibataire, marié, veuf, prêtre — est une affirmation triomphante de l'amour.”

“Les sots, les sans-gêne, les hypocrites, imaginent que les autres sont comme eux… Et le plus pénible, c'est qu'ils les traitent comme s'ils l'étaient vraiment.”

“Le pédant interprète comme de l'ignorance la simplicité et l'humilité du savant.”

“Toutes les choses de ce monde ne sont que terre. — Fais-en un tas sous tes pieds; tu seras plus près du ciel.”

“Tu me dis que oui : que tu es décidé à suivre le Christ. Eh bien, tu dois aller au pas de Dieu; non au tien!”

“The strength of a chain is the strength of its weakest link.”

“The pedant interprets the simplicity and the humility of the wise man as ignorance.”

“All the things of this world are no more than earth. Place them in a heap under your feet and you will be so much the nearer to heaven.”

“First, prayer; then, atonement; in the third place, very much 'in the third place', action.”

“Work is man's original vocation. It is a blessing from God, and those who consider it a punishment are sadly mistaken.”

“Never say of anybody under you: he is no good. It is you who are no good, for you cannot find a place where he will be of use.”

“The higher a statue is raised, the harder and more dangerous the impact when it falls.”

“True virtue is not sad or disagreeable, but pleasantly cheerful.”

“People who are stupid, unscrupulous, or hypocritical, think that others are just the same. And — this is the real pity — they treat them as if they were.”

“It is easier to bustle about than to study, but it is also less effective.”

“With God's grace, you have to tackle and carry out the impossible, because anybody can do what is possible.”

“I am every day more convinced that happiness in Heaven is for those who know how to be happy on earth.”

“Even in our times, despite those who deny God, earth is very close to Heaven.”

“You are ready to give your life for your honour … Be ready to give up your honour for your soul.”

“For everyone, whatever his state — single, married, widowed or priest — chastity is a triumphant affirmation of love.”

“You are too calculating. Don't tell me you are young. Youth gives all it can: it gives itself without reserve.”

“The understanding that so many people demand of others is that everyone should join their party.”

“Gold, silver, jewels: dust, heaps of manure. Gratification, sensual pleasures, satisfaction of the appetites: like a beast, like a mule, like a cock, like a pig, like a bull. Honours, distinctions, titles: things of air, puffs of pride, lies, nothingness.”