Charles de Saint-Évremond

“ Ibal had retir’d into Holland, I came acquainted with La Frette and Sauveboeuf; these were none of your Wits, but brave, gallant fellows. La Frette was as stout as Hercules, and my very good friend; and I think that I sufficiently shew’d my self to be his in the Sickness that carried him off. I saw him dying of a small Fever, like a Woman; and was enraged to see La Frette, that gallant La Frette, who fought Bouteville, go out, neither better nor worse, than a farthing Candle. ”

“ Before that I never miss’d a Sermon of Father Desmares, and never swore but by the Gentlemen of Port-Royal; but I have consess’d my self to the Jesuits ever since : and if my Son has ever any Children, I am resolv’d they shall go to the College of Clermont, or else I’ll disinherit ’em."
"Oh, how wonderful are the ways of God!" cried out Father Canaye : "How profound is the mystery of his Justice! A fopling of a Jansenist pretends love to a Lady whom my Lord wished well to : the merciful God makes use of Jealousy to put the Conscience of my Lord into our hands ”

“ We employ gentleness and indulgence, and they affect austerity and rigour. We comfort souls by the examples of God’s mercy; and they frighten them by those of his justice. They would subdue by the means of Fear, those whom we endeavour to attract by the blandishment of Hope. Not but that both of us have a mind to save men; but each has also a design to advance his credit, by saving them; and to speak freely to you, the interest of the Director is generally preferred before the salvation of him who is under his care. I talk to you after quite another manner than I did to the Mareschal. ”

“ Estote sicut infantes, be as infants. Infants preserve their innocency; and why? because they have no Reason. Beati pauperes spiritu, blessed are the poor in spirit; they sin not : the reason is, because they have no Reason. ”

“ Father Canaye having no Horse of his own, desir’d the Mareschal to lend him one to carry him to the Camp. " And what sort of a Horse will you have, Father?" says the Mareschal.
"I will make you the same answer, my Lord, as good Father Suarez made to the Duke of Medina Sidonia upon the like occasion; qualem me decet esse, mansuetum; such an one as I ought to be, gentle and tractable."
"Qualem me decet esse, mansuetum! I understand a little Latin," said the Mareschal, "mansuetum is a fitter word for Sheep than Horses. Let the Father have my Horse ”

“ You are somewhat piqu’d against our Order, and he takes that occasion to surprize, and devour you; nay, worse than devour you, to make you turn Jansenist. Vigilate, vigilate; a man cannot be too much upon his guard against the common enemy of mankind."
"The Father’s in the right," said the Mareschal. "I have been told that the Devil never sleeps. We ought to do the like, and be always upon our guard ”