Top 60 John of the Cross Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “Silence is God’s first language.”

— John of the Cross

2. “In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.”

— John of the Cross

3. “In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved.”

— John of the Cross

4. “Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.”

— John of the Cross

5. “Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.”

— John of the Cross

6. “God leads every soul by a separate path.”

— John of the Cross

7. “In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds.”

— John of the Cross

8. “Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.”

— John of the Cross

9. “It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.”

— John of the Cross

10. “Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying, and it will be opened to you in contemplation.”

— John of the Cross

11. “Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.”

— John of the Cross

12. “The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired.”

— John of the Cross

13. “Faith is the union of God and the soul.”

— John of the Cross

14. “Where there is no love, pour love in, and you will draw love out.”

— John of the Cross

15. “At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity.”

— John of the Cross

16. “A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things.”

— John of the Cross

17. “Do not let your “eye” be drawn by the false “beacon lamps” -of wealth, or position, or fame, or possessions. Be vigilant over your will and desires, for these are the corrupt forces that dwell within, and keep you from living free.”

— John of the Cross

18. “Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting.”

— John of the Cross

19. “To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.”

— John of the Cross

20. “Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn’t seek the glory of Christ.”

— John of the Cross

21. “Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.”

— John of the Cross

22. “However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us; nor do we need wings to go in search of him, but merely to seek solitude and contemplate him within ourselves, without being surprised to find such a good Guest there.”

— John of the Cross

23. “The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, is always in her palace of jubilation, ever singing with fresh ardor and fresh pleasure a new song of joy and love.”

— John of the Cross

24. “Desolation is a file, and the endurance of darkness is preparation for great light.”

— John of the Cross

25. “In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.”

— John of the Cross

26. “Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.”

— John of the Cross

27. “If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.”

— John of the Cross

28. “Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every desire.”

— John of the Cross

29. “The soul that journey’s to God, but doesn’t shake off it’s cares and quiet it’s appetities, is like someone who drags a cart of dirt uphill.”

— John of the Cross

30. “Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.”

— John of the Cross

31. “God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty.”

— John of the Cross

32. “God desires from you the least degree of purity of conscience more than all the works you can perform.”

— John of the Cross

33. “Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.”

— John of the Cross

34. “He who interrupts the course of his spiritual exercises and prayer is like a man who allows a bird to escape from his hand; he can hardly catch it again.”

— John of the Cross

35. “The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”

— John of the Cross

36. “Have a great love for those who contradict and fail to love you, for in this way love is begotten in a heart that has no love.”

— John of the Cross

37. “If you lose an opportunity you will be like one who lets the bird fly away; you will never get it back.”

— John of the Cross

38. “They say, “God told me”, or “God replied to me”. And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.”

— John of the Cross

39. “My sole occupation is love.”

— John of the Cross

40. “Obedience is a penance of reason, and, on that account, a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances and mortifications.”

— John of the Cross

41. “Who teaches the soul if not God?”

— John of the Cross

42. “He who avoids prayer is avoiding everything that is good.”

— John of the Cross

43. “The eternal spring is hidden in this living bread for our life’s sake, although it is night. It is here calling out to creatures; and they satisfy their thirst, although in darkness, because it is night. This living spring that I long for, I see in this bread of life, although it is night.”

— John of the Cross

44. “Lord, I shall see you no more with the eyes of the flesh...”

— John of the Cross

45. “Beloved, all that is harsh and difficult I want for myself, and all that is gentle and sweet for thee.”

— John of the Cross

46. “Strive always to confess your sins with a deep knowledge of your own wretchedness and with clarity and purity.”

— John of the Cross

47. “He who loves is not ashamed before men of what he does for God, neither does he hide it through shame though the whole world should condemn it.”

— John of the Cross

48. “See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained in the judgments of God for the everlasting joy of the elect.”

— John of the Cross

49. “Let all find COMPASSION in YOU.”

— John of the Cross

50. “The purest suffering bears and carries in its train the purest understanding.”

— John of the Cross