God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
A true saint is a divine landscape or picture, where all the rare beauties of Christ are lively portrayed and drawn forth.—He hath the same spirit, the same judgment, the same will with Christ.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
We must have a real living determination to reach holiness. “I will be a saint” means I will despoil myself of all that is not God; I will strip my heart of all created things; I will live in poverty and detachment; I will renounce my will, my inclinations, my whims and fancies, and make myself a willing slave to the will of God.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
A saint addicted to excessive self-abnegation is a dangerous associate; he may infect you with poverty, and a stiffening of those joints which are needed for advancement—in a word, with more renunciation than you care for—and so you flee the contagion.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the saints.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
People who are born even-tempered, placid and untroubled—secure from violent passions or temptations to evil—those who have never needed to struggle all night with the Angel to emerge lame but victorious at dawn, never become great saints.
—Eva Le Gallienne (1899–1991) British-born American Stage Actress
The elect are whosoever will, and the nonelect, whosoever won’t.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Saints are simply men and women who have fulfilled their natural obligation which is to approach God.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
What makes saintliness in my view, as distinguished from ordinary goodness, is a certain quality of magnanimity and greatness of soul that brings life within the circle of the heroic.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
It is well for his peace that the saint goes to his martyrdom. He is spared the sight of the horror of his harvest.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
It is easier to make a saint out of a libertine than out of a prig.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Saintliness is also a temptation.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
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