Saint Francis de Sales · 1567–1622
St Francis de Sales Quotes
Francis de Sales wrote for people who were not monks — married, working, busy — and argued that devotion belongs in an ordinary life or nowhere. He is the patron saint of writers, and it shows.
On patience with yourself
The advice he is most quoted for, and the hardest to take.
“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections.”
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
On devotion in ordinary life
The Introduction to the Devout Life was written for a laywoman, and it assumes she has a household to run.
“Devotion must be practised in different ways by the gentleman, the artisan, the servant, the prince, the widow, the young girl, the wife.”
“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”
Quotes wrongly attributed to St Francis de Sales
These circulate widely under St Francis de Sales's name and are not his. They are listed here so you do not put one in a homily, a bulletin or a citation.
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