to say nothing through fear that taking the matter up would be yielding to temptation would itself be to yield to temptation. - Teresa of Ávila

matters. Do you think, my daughters, that it is an easy matter to have to do business with the world, to live in the world, to engage in the affairs of the world, and, as I have said, to live as worldly men do, and yet inwardly to be strangers to the world, and enemies of the world, like persons who are in exile — to be, in short, not men but angels?

Sidnummer 36, sida 40 (Hus 3)
All things obstruct us while prudence rules our actions; we are afraid of everything and therefore fear to make progress — as if we could reach the inner chambers while others make the journey for us! As this is impossible, sisters, for the love of God let us exert ourselves, and leave our reason and our fears in His hands, paying no attention to the weaknesses of nature which might retard us.

if it is prayer at all, it must be accompanied by meditation.