Quotes about Gratitude

It is a beastly business when people start eating without prayer, and when they are full, they run out without as much as mentioning God's name.

We call "piety" that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces. For until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of their every good, that they should seek nothing beyond him—they will never yield him willing service. Nay, unless they establish their complete happiness in him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to him.

We are enjoined whenever we behold the gifts of God in others so to reverence and respect the gifts as also to honor those in whom they reside.

For we never have naked and empty symbols, except when our ingratitude and wickedness hinder the working of divine beneficence.

Once we've concluded that this earthly life of ours is a gift of divine mercy—and grateful recollection of this is our obligation—then we rightly stoop to consider this life's miserable condition. And by such consideration we disentangle ourselves from excessive desire for this life, which— as has been said—is our natural inclination.

Although brethren die for brethren, yet no martyr's blood is shed for the remission of sins: this Christ did for us, and in this conferred upon us not what we should imitate, but what should make us grateful," (August. Tract. in Joann. 84).

But if Abram bore his continual wanderings patiently, our   fastidiousness is utterly inexcusable, when we murmur against God, if   he does not grant us a quiet nest.

You cannot imagine a more certain rule or a more powerful suggestion than this, that all the blessings we enjoy are divine deposits which we have received on this condition that we distribute them to others.

Desire is bridled when we acknowledge that all thing given to us are given in order that we might know their author.

By piety I mean that union of reverence and love to God which the knowledge of his benefits inspires.

Men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy.

Those who see the nightly splendor of the moon are possessed by perverse ingratitude if they do not recognize the goodness of God.