Teresa of Avila

O God, help us truly to grasp this truth and to desire to enter into these dwelling places. May the Lord help us, both you and me, to understand what they are like!

Those who practice prayer should have a special affection for this dwelling place, for although in all of them there is great blessing, in none is it so continuous as here.

The difference between the greatest and the least soul is not very great; for both alike receive His favors and both have the power of giving great pleasure to Our Lord.

It should be the measure of your desire rather than the measure of your actions.

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.

The whole company of heaven rejoices in a soul that has reached this state, for then God fills it with glory; He will do this if we prepare the interior mansion and if He finds us detached from earthly things.

The only opportunities you will have, however, will be such as are within your scope now; do not go looking for anything else.

The loving soul already has one foot on earth and one in heaven.

It is not fitting, when one is in the king's presence, to look at the surroundings and the ornaments of his palaces, but rather to fix one's eyes on the king himself.

All the harm comes to thee from not understanding and loving thyself well.

Love and self-denial for the love of God is the outstanding virtue of the members of this third dwelling place in The Interior Castle.

The humility of the heart consists in self-abasement and in thinking little of ourselves.