Prayer is the act by which man, detaching himself from the embarrassments of sense and nature, ascends to the true level of his destiny.

Don't you see, hon, this is all beyond us. When things are out of your control, it's time to just sit back and watch the Lord at work.

In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro. (Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book.)

Nergens heb ik meer rust gevonden dan in bossen en boeken.

Be faithful to your secret place, and it will become your closest friend and bring you much comfort. In silence and stillness a devout person grows spiritually and learns the hidden things of the Bible. Tears shed there bring cleansing. God draws near to the one who withdraws for a while. It is better for you to look after yourself this way in private than to perform wonders in public while neglecting your soul.

O quam salubre, quam iucundum et suave est sedere in solitudine et tacere et loqui cum Deo!

It is better for you to live privately and take care of yourself than it is to neglect your soul even though you could work wonders in the world.

Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book.

The spiritually-minded man putteth care of himself before all cares; and he who diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence concerning others. Thou wilt never be spiritually minded and godly unless thou art silent concerning other men's matters and take full heed to thyself. If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God, what thou seest out of doors shall move thee little. Where art thou when thou art not present to thyself?

For a spiritual person, it is commendable to rarely venture out, avoid being seen, and have no desire to see others.

It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men who devote their lives to contemplation.

So I sit there kicked my heels, thinking about New Orleans, and watching a morbid blue-bottle fly attempt to commit suicide by butting his head against the windowpane.