Top 135 Quotes & Sayings by Francis of Assisi

For it is in giving that we receive.

Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love.

The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens, you have made them bright, precious and fair.

It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.

Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these, they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.

While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.

Holy humility confounds pride and all the men of this world and all things that are in the world.

Holy charity confounds all diabolical and fleshly temptations and all fleshly fears.

Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty: permit the distinctive sign of our order to be that it does not possess anything of its own beneath the sun, for the glory of your name, and that it have no other patrimony than begging.

Holy poverty confounds cupidity and avarice and the cares of this world.

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.

We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather, we must be simple, humble and pure.

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.

We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake.

Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.

No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

Great and glorious God, and Thou Lord Jesus, I pray you shed abroad your light in the darkness of my mind. Be found of me, Lord, so that in all things I may act only in accordance with Thy holy will.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin!

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

If a superior give any order to one who is under him which is against that man's conscience, although he do not obey it yet he shall not be dismissed.

Where there is injury let me sow pardon.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour; of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the flesh.

Holy wisdom confounds Satan and all his wickednesses.

I am the herald of the Great King.

By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man's heart and make a dwelling for himself there.

What do you have to fear? Nothing. Whom do you have to fear? No one. Why? Because whoever has joined forces with God obtains three great privileges: omnipotence without power, intoxication without wine, and life without death.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved, as to love.

All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. ... God wants us to help animals, if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.

The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure.

Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer.

He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist

What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.

The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.

Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

The journey is essential to the dream.

We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer.

The one you are looking for is the one who is looking.

Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer, and never cease working.

It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things.

You cannot all abandon your possessions, but at least you can change your attitude about them. All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others.

Do all you can to preach the gospel and if necessary use words!

God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection.

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.

Where there is Love and Wisdom, there is neither Fear nor Ignorance. Where there is Patience and Humility, there is neither Anger nor Annoyance. Where there is Poverty and Joy, there is neither Cupidity nor Avarice. Where there is Peace and Contemplation, there is neither Care nor Restlessness. Where there is the Fear of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter. Where there is Mercy and Prudence, there is neither Excess nor Harshness.

I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.

Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it.