all the while I was thinking that I was the only man who did not know what I was about, and that all the others did—whereas, as I found out later, pretty much everybody else was as much in the dark as I was.

For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

No man ruleth safely but he that is willingly ruled.

Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.

If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.

The Lord bestows his blessings there, where he finds the vessels empty.

And whatsoever thou art not enabled to understand, that commit without anxiety to Almighty God. God deceiveth thee not; he is deceived who believeth too much in himself. God walketh with the simple, revealeth Himself to the humble, giveth understanding to babes, openeth the sense to pure minds, and hideth grace from the curious and proud. Human reason is weak and may be deceived; but true faith cannot be deceived.

We must not trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God.

True it is that every man willingly followeth his own bent, and is the more inclined to those who agree with him. But if Christ is amongst us, then it is necessary that we sometimes yield up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others.

As soon as you have given yourself to God with all your heart and seek neither this nor that for your own pleasure and purpose, but place yourself completely in His charge, you shall find yourself at peace, united with Him, because nothing will be so sweet, nothing will please you so much as the good pleasure of His will.

2. Boast not thyself in thy riches if thou hast them, nor in thy friends if they be powerful, but in God, who giveth all things,

If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest not.