Since God often sends us inspirations by means of His angels, we should frequently return our aspirations to him by means of the same messengers.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
Lately I was near the beehives and some of the bees flew onto my face. I wanted to raise my hand, and brush them off. 'No,' said a peasant to me, 'do not be afraid, and do not touch them. They will not sting you at all, if you touch them they will bite you.' I trusted him; not one bit me. Trust me; do not fear these temptations. Do not touch them; they will not hurt you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that we should not fear certain temptations, as they may not cause harm if approached correctly.
This quote by Saint Francis De Sales advises individuals to confront their fears and resist the temptation to react impulsively to situations that seem threatening. It emphasizes the importance of trust and the belief that many perceived dangers are harmless if one maintains a composed and gentle approach. By likening temptation to the harmless nature of bees when left undisturbed, it encourages a mindset of cautious confidence rather than fear-driven avoidance.
Themes
FearTemptationTrustWisdomCourage
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming fears and temptations.
More from Saint Francis De Sales
All quotes →You can attract more bees with a spoonful of sugar than a cupful of vinegar.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage
Saint Francis De SalesRead
Represent to yourself a dark city all burning and stinking with fire and brimstone. The damned are in the depth of hell within this woful city, where they suffer unspeakable torments in all their senses and members. Consider above all the eternity of their pains, which above all things makes hell intolerable.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
There is no better means of attainment to the spiritual life Than by continually beginning again.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
Retire at various times into the solitude of your own heart, even while outwardly engaged in discussions or transactions with others, and talk to God.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
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