Real life consists in improving yourself, conquering your body with the power of your soul and moving closer to God. This does not happen by itself. It requires effort. And this effort gives you joy.
A habit can never be considered a good, even the habit of doing good deeds. The good it does ceases to be the result of virtue. Only that which is achieved through effort is good.
Bear your burden and know that your good lies in it; extract from it everything that you need to lead a wise life like the stomach, which extracts all the nutrients needed by the flesh, or like fire, which burns brighter when fuel is thrown into it.
— Marcus Aurelius
The more you try to push away your cross, the heavier it becomes.
— Amiel
Always pay attention to what you are doing, and do not consider anything unworthy of your attention.
— Confucius
The unremitting retention of simple and high sentiments in obscure duties is hardening the character to that temper which will work with honor, if need be, in the tumult, or on the scaffold.
— Emerson
Growth is a slow process, not a convulsive explosion. It is just as impossible to defeat sin with the convulsions of repentance as it is to learn a whole branch of science by a momentary impulse of thought. The true means of inner improvement lies only in constant, patient effort, guided by reason.
— Channing
Moral effort and the joy of experiencing life take turns just like physical labor and the joy of rest. Without physical labor there is no joy of rest; without moral effort there is no joy of experiencing life.
