Top 80 Saint Teresa of Avila Quotes

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.

Whenever we think of Christ, we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him.

Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love.

I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

It is no small misfortune and disgrace that, through our own fault, we neither understand our nature nor our origin.

The custom of speaking to God Almighty as freely as with a slave – caring nothing whether the words are suitable or not, but simply saying the first thing that comes to mind from being learnt by rote by frequent repetition – cannot be called prayer: God grant that no Christian may address Him in this manner.

A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept within narrow bounds.

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

How friendly all men would be one with another, if no regard were paid to honour and money! I believe it would be a remedy for everything.

I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible.

More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.

When the soul, through its own fault… becomes rooted in a pool of pitch-black, evil smelling water, it produces nothing but misery and filth.

A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept within narrow bounds.

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen?

All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding His life we find that He is the best example.

I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.

All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding His life we find that He is the best example.

Whenever we think of Christ, we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him.

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can – namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us.

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen?

If I were to give advice, I would say to parents that they ought to be very careful whom they allow to mix with their children when young; for much mischief thence ensues, and our natural inclinations are unto evil rather than unto good.

Whoever has not begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. There is nothing here to fear but only something to desire.

Don’t let your sins turn into bad habits.

Anyone who truly loves God travels securely.

All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

I had a father and mother, who were devout and feared God. Our Lord also helped me with His grace. All this would have been enough to make me good, if I had not been so wicked.

Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul: it seems that no other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, because the name of Jesus was fixed and embedded in his heart.

While the soul is in mortal sin, nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue.

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.

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

May God protect me from gloomy saints.

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.

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.

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.

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.

The devil put before me that I could not endure the trials of the religious life, because of my delicate nurture. I defended myself against him by alleging the trials which Christ endured, and that it was not much for me to suffer something for His sake; besides, He would help me to bear it.

I had a father and mother, who were devout and feared God. Our Lord also helped me with His grace. All this would have been enough to make me good, if I had not been so wicked.

If I should say anything that is not in conformity with what is held by the Holy Roman Catholic Church, it will be through ignorance and not through malice. This may be taken as certain, and also that, through God’s goodness, I am, and shall always be, as I always have been, subject to her.

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

In a state of grace, the soul is like a well of limpid water, from which flow only streams of clearest crystal. Its works are pleasing both to God and man, rising from the River of Life, beside which it is rooted like a tree.

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.

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.

While the soul is in mortal sin, nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue.

Whoever has not begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. There is nothing here to fear but only something to desire.

I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.

Don’t let your sins turn into bad habits.

If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.

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

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

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.

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.

All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.

I had many friends to help me to fall; but as to rising again, I was so much left to myself, that I wonder now I was not always on the ground. I praise God for His mercy; for it was He only Who stretched out His hand to me. May He be blessed for ever! Amen.

Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul: it seems that no other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, because the name of Jesus was fixed and embedded in his heart.

Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness.

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend.

It is a most certain truth, that the richer we see ourselves to be, confessing at the same time our poverty, the greater will be our progress, and the more real our humility.