CHAPTER XVIII. On Frivolous Attachments. SUCH foolish attachments between man and woman without any matrimonial intentions as are called amourettes,–mere abortions, or rather phantoms of…
CHAPTER XVII. On Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship. FOREMOST among the soul’s affections is love. Love is the ruler of every motion of the heart;…
CHAPTER XVI. How to possess a rich Spirit amid real Poverty. BUT if you are really poor, my daughter, for God’s Sake be so in…
CHAPTER XV. How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich. THE painter Parrhasius drew an ingenious and imaginative representation of the Athenians, ascribing sundry opposite…
CHAPTER XIV. On Poverty of Spirit amid Riches. “BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God;” [97] and if so,…
CHAPTER XIII. How to maintain Purity. BE exceedingly quick in turning aside from the slightest thing leading to impurity, for it is an evil which…
CHAPTER XII. On Purity. PURITY is the lily among virtues–by it men approach to the Angels. There is no beauty without purity, and human purity…
CHAPTER XI. On Obedience. LOVE alone leads to perfection, but the three chief means for acquiring it are obedience, chastity, and poverty. Obedience is a…
CHAPTER X. We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without Eagerness or Over-anxiety. THE care and diligence due to our ordinary business…
CHAPTER IX. On Gentleness towards Ourselves. ONE important direction in which to exercise gentleness, is with respect to ourselves, never growing irritated with one’s self…
