Apart from sin, anxiety is the soul's greatest enemy. The devil does not hesitate to fish in troubled waters....When you become aware of a growing anxiety, commend yourself to God, and make up your mind not to take any steps until your mind is calm again....Examine whether your heart is under complete control. If it has strayed, quietly lead it back to the presence of God, placing all your hopes in obedience to his holy will.

-St. Francis de Sales

"A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity"

-St. Francis de Sales [H/T Michelle Arnold]

"It is far better to do a few things well than to undertake many good works and leave them half-done."

 -St. Francis de Sales

It is a good practice of humility, to consider the actions of others only to remark the virtues and never the imperfections; for when we have no charge over them, we must not turn our eyes, still less our attention, that way. We must always interpret in the best sense we can what we see our neighbour do; and in doubtful things we must persuade ourselves that what we have perceived is not evil, but that it is our imperfection that causes such thoughts; in order to avoid rash judgments on the actions of others, which is a very dangerous evil, and to be detested above all others. In things evidently bad, we must have compassion, and humble ourselves for our neighbour's faults, as if they were our own, and pray God for their amendment with the same earnestness that we should for our own, if we were subject to the same defects.

-St. Francis de Sales, The True Spiritual Conferences of St. Francis of Sales

"Blessed are the pliable hearts, for they will never break."

...they will try to render their hearts supple and pliable, submissive and ready to condescend in all things allowable, and to show obedience and charity in every undertaking, so as to resemble the dove, which receives all the lights the sun gives her. Blessed are the pliable hearts, for they will never break.

-St. Francis de Sales, The True Spiritual Conferences of St. Francis of Sales