A biography for Saint Teresa of Avilahasn’t been written yet.
“All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.”
“Pain is never permanent.”
“If I should say anything that is not in conformity with what is held by the Holy Roman Catholic Church, it will be through ignorance and not through malice. This may be taken as certain, and also that, through God's goodness, I am, and shall always be, as I always have been, subject to her.”
“Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything.”
“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.”
“I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.”
“It is a most certain truth, that the richer we see ourselves to be, confessing at the same time our poverty, the greater will be our progress, and the more real our humility.”
“The custom of speaking to God Almighty as freely as with a slave - caring nothing whether the words are suitable or not, but simply saying the first thing that comes to mind from being learnt by rote by frequent repetition - cannot be called prayer: God grant that no Christian may address Him in this manner.”
“Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love.”
“I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer.”
“To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.”
“I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.”
“If I were to give advice, I would say to parents that they ought to be very careful whom they allow to mix with their children when young; for much mischief thence ensues, and our natural inclinations are unto evil rather than unto good.”
“What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company?”
“I was living an extremely burdensome life, because every time I prayed, I became more clearly aware of my faults. On the one hand, God was calling me. On the other, I was following the way of the world. Doing what God wanted made me happy; but I felt bound by the things of this world.”
“I had a father and mother, who were devout and feared God. Our Lord also helped me with His grace. All this would have been enough to make me good, if I had not been so wicked.”
“What value is there in faith without works? And what are they worth if they are not united to the merits of Jesus Christ, our only good?”
“While the soul is in mortal sin, nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue.”
“The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.”
“A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept within narrow bounds.”