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Alas! how many souls there are full of self, and yet desirous of doing good and serving God, but in such a way as to suit themselves; who desire to impose rules upon God as to His manner of drawing them to Himself. They want to serve and possess Him, but they are not willing to be possessed by Him.

— François Fénelon

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More quotes by François Fénelon

All the human kind is but one family, dispersed over the face of the whole earth; all men are brothers, and ought to love each other as such.

Les aventures de Télémaque (1699)

The good historian is not for any time or any country: while he loves his fatherland, he never flatters it in anything.

In general, those who govern children forgive nothing in them, but everything in themselves.

The presence of God calms the soul, and gives it quiet and repose.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Let us endeavor to commence every enterprise with a pure view to the glory of God, continue it without distraction, and finish it without impatience.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: François Fénelon (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.