Top 24 Quotes & Sayings by Benedict of Nursia

Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.

Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine grace.

The first degree of humility is prompt obedience.

Run while you have the light of life!

Then are they truly monks when they live by the labor of their hands.

And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.

The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!

Every age and degree of understanding should have its proper measure of discipline. With regard to boys and adolescents, therefore, or those who cannot understand the seriousness of the penalty of excommunication, whenever such as these are delinquent let them be subjected to severe fasts or brought to terms by harsh beatings, that they may be cured.

It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.

It is time now for us to rise from sleep.

He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.

The sleepy like to make excuses.

He who has ears for hearing, let him listen

Be careful to be gentle, lest in removing the rust, you break the whole instrument.

To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself; but to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it on one's self.

Listen carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart. Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all.

Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his [Jesus] paths by the guidance of the Gospel.

He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.

Idleness is an enemy of the soul.

There is nothing better to display the truth in an excellent light, than a clear and simple statement of facts.

Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.

Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.