Francois Fenelon

Francois Fenelon
François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, more commonly known as François Fénelon, was a French Roman Catholic archbishop, theologian, poet and writer. He today is remembered mostly as the author of The Adventures of Telemachus, first published in 1699...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionClergyman
CountryFrance
real views mind
There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we consider those things of little importance which have in fact such extensive consequences.
loss presence-of-mind brave
I had often heard Mentor say, that the voluptuous were never brave, and I now found by experience that it was true; for the Cyprians whose jollity had been so extravagant and tumultuous, now sunk under a sense of their danger and wept like women. I heard nothing but the screams of terror and the wailings of hopeless distress. Some lamented the loss of pleasures that were never to return; but none had presence of mind either to undertake or direct the navigation of the menaced vessel.
mind facts virtue
Exactness and neatness in moderation is a virtue, but carried to extremes narrows the mind.
mind virtue extremes
We must avoid fastidiousness; neatness, when it is moderate, is a virtue; but when it is carried to an extreme, it narrows the mind.
mind violence excitement
Violent excitement exhausts the mind and leaves it withered and sterile.
hypocrite mind conviction
No human power can force the intrenchments of the human mind: compulsion never persuades; it only makes hypocrites.
mind use distrust
The best use one can make of his mind is to distrust it.
crowns exchange feet kingdoms laid love riches
If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kingdoms of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my love of reading, I would spurn them all
disappointment light essentials
In the light of eternity we shall see that what we desired would have been fatal to us, and that what we would have avoided was essential to our well-being.
church passionate sin
To just read the Bible, attend church, and avoid “big” sins-is this passionate, wholehearted love for God?
doe gods-will conform
How does our will become sanctified? By conforming itself unreservedly to that of God.
pain feet vanity
The youth who, like a woman, loves to adorn his person, has renounced all claim to wisdom and to glory; glory is due to those only who dare to associate with pain, and have trampled pleasure under their feet.
prayer moving speak
Speak, move, act in peace, as if you were in prayer. In truth, this is prayer.
trouble crosses dread
The greater our dread of crosses, the more necessary they are for us.