More from John of the Cross
Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Never listen to accounts of the frailty of others; and if anyone should complain to you of another, humbly ask him not to speak about him at all.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Faith is the union of God and the soul.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Seek in reading and thou shalt find in meditation; knock in prayer and it shall be opened in contemplation.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross To reach satisfaction in all desire its possession in nothing, To come to the knowledge of all desire the knowledge of nothing. To come to possess all desire the possession of nothing. To arrive at being all desire to be nothing.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross If you lose an opportunity you will be like one who lets the bird fly away; you will never get it back.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross They say, “God told me”, or “God replied to me”. And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every desire.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Lord, I shall see you no more with the eyes of the flesh.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross He who interrupts the course of his spiritual exercises and prayer is like a man who allows a bird to escape from his hand; he can hardly catch it again.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Do not let your “eye” be drawn by the false “beacon lamps” -of wealth, or position, or fame, or possessions. Be vigilant over your will and desires, for these are the corrupt forces that dwell within, and keep you from living free.
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross Oh, night that guided me, Oh, night more lovely than the dawn,Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved!
John of the CrossJohn of the Cross
Original quotes
From our community writers
In this wilderness, Mankind is the animal I fear.
Addison SchmittAddison Schmitt The irony is that he broke the only person he never wanted to hurt.
Krishan PandeyKrishan Pandey I will wait, I am waiting, and I will love you with all the love I posses until this body is ash and I begin my search for you again.
Tyler Knott GregsonTyler Knott Gregson Nothing is permanent not even your pain.
Taj AroraTaj Arora Do not insist me to let you go, you come half hearted like a crescent moon, and you go heart-filled like a full moon which glows.
Nikita GandhiNikita Gandhi I want to fold you into my book, like a petal, so that you’d never leave.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi It seems strange how we look in the same mirror, yet what stares back, is so painfully different.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Do not measure yourself by success, failure, or a degree. Measure your life by the dreams you have.
Natalie MooneyNatalie Mooney
Meet the writers
More on darkness
Grasping for empty promises creating hazards in the dark. Leaving a mess we can’t clean up all in the name of love.
Ana DeeAna Dee By acknowledging my darkness I embrace my light.
Nansia MovidiNansia Movidi The prolonged slavery of woman is the darkest page in human history.
Elizabeth Cady StantonElizabeth Cady Stanton One ever feels his twoness – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.
W. E. B. Du BoisW. E. B. Du Bois The concept of the black and white people boils down to: No light without darkness – You depend on each other!
Mwanandeke KindemboMwanandeke Kindembo In the darkness there are no shadows to fear.
Sarah J. MarvinSarah J. Marvin Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, “I can clean that if you want.” And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin.
Max LucadoMax Lucado Think not I dread to see my spirit fly, Through the dark gates of fell mortality; Death has no terrors when the life is true; ‘Tis living ill that makes us fear to die.
Omar KhayyamOmar Khayyam