Obedience has the property of changing the flower of our desires into
the fruits of good works. Shun singularity as far as possible, and do
not make yourselves different exteriorly in any way from others.--_St.
Teresa._
As the best honey is gathered from the flowers of the thyme, which is
a small and bitter herb, so when virtues are exercised in the
bitterness of the most humble tribulations, they become truly
excellent.--_St. Francis of Sales._
As the sun gives its heat no less to a rose amidst a thousand other
flowers than if it were alone, so Our Lord does not diffuse His love
the less upon one soul because He also loves an infinity of others.
The power of His love never diminishes on account of the multitude of
rays that it diffuses, but is always unchangeable in its immensity.--
_The same._