Jean Vanier Quotes

The word love has been so abused by publicity and advertisements that we no longer know really what it means.

We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.

We can be seduced...by powerful political groups that promise more wealth and lower taxes. Those with power can use clever, psychological tricks and play upon our weaknesses and brokenness in order to attract us to their way of thinking. We can be manipulated into illusion.

[Happiness] comes when we choose to be who we are, to be ourselves, at this present moment in our lives.

Look at your own poverty
welcome it
cherish it
don't be afraid
share your death
because thus you will share your love and your life

I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes.

The friend of time doesn't spend all day saying: 'I haven't got time.' He doesn't fight with time. He accepts it and cherishes it.

Peace is the fruit of love, a love that is also justice. But to grow in love requires work - hard work. And it can bring pain because it implies loss - loss of the certitudes, comforts, and hurts that shelter and define us.

We work for peace every time we exercise authority with wisdom and authentic love.

We discover that we are at the same time very insignificant and very important, because each of our actions is preparing the humanity of tomorrow; it is a tiny contribution to the construction of the huge and glorious final humanity

People cannot accept their own evil if they do not at the same time feel loved, respected and trusted.