The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may read more

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

Life is a tightrope with God at the end. If we walk with our eyes down, looking at what is read more

Life is a tightrope with God at the end. If we walk with our eyes down, looking at what is happening right now in our lives, we are likely to waver and fall. However, if we focus at the end of the rope, where God and Heaven await us, we can see past all of the petty troubles this present life and walk more steadily. We may sometimes still stumble, but if we get back up and train our eyes on God once again, He will guide us to the end.

Faith, enthusiasm, and passionate intensity in general are substitutes for the self-confidence born of experience and the possession of skill. read more

Faith, enthusiasm, and passionate intensity in general are substitutes for the self-confidence born of experience and the possession of skill. Where there is the necessary skill to move mountains there is no need for the faith that moves mountains.

If one age believes too much it is natural that another believes too little.

If one age believes too much it is natural that another believes too little.

Does he say novenas
for those with no venus
(to Dan Brown).

Does he say novenas
for those with no venus
(to Dan Brown).

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small.

O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small.

A man met a lad weeping. "What do you weep for?" he asked. "I am weeping for my sins," said read more

A man met a lad weeping. "What do you weep for?" he asked. "I am weeping for my sins," said the lad. "You must have little to do," said the man. The next day, they met again. Once more the lad was weeping. "Why do you weep now?" asked the man. "I am weeping because I have nothing to eat," said the lad. "I thought it would come to that," said the man.

Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.

Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.