May 22

The greatest changes and everything in nature happen imperceptibly, through slow growth, rather than explosions.

The same is true in spiritual life.

1

All true thoughts are living thoughts and they express their life in their being capable of nourishment and transformation. But their transformation is akin to a tree, not a cloud.

— John Ruskin

2

Everything great is accomplished by slow, imperceptible growth.

3

The perfection of individuals and society is never attained for all times, for every age has its own perfection.

— Lucy Mallory

4

Life must be the birth of the soul. The animal must become humanized, flesh must be turned into spirit; material activity must be turned into thought, into consciousness, into reason, justice and magnanimity, like a candle into light and warmth. This highest alchemy justifies our presence on earth; this is what constitutes our dignity.

— Amiel

5

Just as one cannot break an egg with a chick in it without endangering its life, so too a person cannot free another without endangering that person’s spiritual life. When the spirit reaches a certain point of growth, it will break its own fetters.

— Lucy Mallory

6

Life is a never-ending miracle. By knowing what growth is, we know the most sacred mystery of nature.

— Lucy Mallory

Nothing is as harmful to moral perfection as an awareness of your success.

Fortunately, the path of true moral perfection happens so imperceptibly that a human being can only see his successes after long periods of time have passed.

If you think that you are becoming more perfect, if you notice it, know that you are either mistaken, have halted, or are going backwards.