Quotes and phrases of San Carlo Borromeo, the most famous aphorisms of the cardinal who lived in the sixteenth century, archbishop of great fame who gave the wealth of the poor to the poor and vigorously defended the interference of local powers within the ecclesiastical structures.

Quotes of San Carlo Borromeo

- If the priests are holy, the people will likewise be holy.

- Put together not a sun and a world, but a thousand suns and a thousand worlds, your soul, or Christian, is much greater, indeed it is far from suffering comparison.

- The candle must be consumed to give light.

- Not making purchases is the same as making losses.

- Good works are the basis of prayer; remove them, and the prayer does not last.

- At first you have to discern with caution, but then perform with energy, and never let your hands fall between the works.

- Of one thing, please, don't let yourselves be led there by the desire to see or be seen.

- The office of the Shepherds is to preach, they who today were elected by God to his witnesses, nor ever having to remain silent, since the witnesses speak.

- With what study you breed oxen, sheep, horses! And don't you worry about your children? Is it not on their good education that the happiness of your families, of your country, of this whole valley depends?

- Since there is no comparison or proportion between the finite and the infinite; here it is not a language that can utter a word.

Recommended readings

• Phrases of St. Dominic of Guzman: biography
• Phrases of Santa Gemma Galgani: quotes and aphorisms
• Phrases of Saint Anthony of Padua: quotes, aphorisms
• Phrases of San Filippo Neri: famous aphorisms from the writings
• Phrases of San Camillo de Lellis: quotes and thoughts

- (...) No one could ever have a love greater than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. Christ gave his life for you who were an enemy.

Aphorisms of San Carlo Borromeo

- Because listening is not enough, but I still wanted to practice what you listen to.

- It cannot happen that anyone brings fire in his breast concealed: it is strength that he discovers himself, flares up and burns.

- Neither the truth can conceal itself, nor the meridian sun ascend, without any ray of it shining through.

- (...) My soul never ceases to praise the Lord who never ceases to bestow gifts.

- Salt season the food, and with its natural acrimony it preserves the meat from decay.

- On the first trip he makes, he finds mountains and disastrous places, but that doesn't mean he has to continue.

- (...) Crying on these bitterness, make efforts so that there is no occasion for you to cry bitterly in the future.

- Put together not a sun and a world, but a thousand suns and a thousand worlds, your soul, or Christian, is much greater, indeed it is far from suffering comparison.

- One of the main bridges in doing things is resolving the duty of wanting to do them and then remaining firm in resolutions.

- Ignorance is the mother of many misleadings.

- And who can ever deny to himself the existence of the sun, which he sees?

Phrases of San Carlo Borromeo

- The virtue of God cannot be put in a worse position than one's own judgment.

- Whence it happens that the envious take offense at everything, even dreams: foolishness of which no other is greater.

- You are citizens of heaven, and yet in debt to lead a life.

- We are not deceived, we do not honor God with our tongue alone.

- Nor who alone will have begun, but whoever has persisted in screaming will gain health.

- It is precisely a weak and infirm soul to call oneself offended by insults or words, since robust and strong dogs walk with confidence in the barking of the little dogs.

- Souls are conquered with the knees.

- Learn also to fear that you will not fail in the street if you fast.

- And this is the only way according to which it seems to me that I can proceed.

- What attracts me to you, Lord, is you! You alone, nailed to the Cross, with the body torn between death agonies. And your love has taken hold of my heart so much that, even if there was no Paradise, I would love you anyway. You have nothing to give me to provoke my love so that even if I didn't hope for what I hope, I would still love you as I love you. Amen.

- Destroyed the foundation, collapses and ruins everything that was raised above.