Christian quotations by Don Bosco: Corrections, Fraternal

"To keep peace in the house, be humble and forbearing. Even when a superior admonishes in matters which have been exaggerated, or misunderstood, or falsely reported, his advice should be received respectfully as a preventive remedy"

"Likewise, when you must correct, reprimand, or warn a pupil, always try to do it in private and when he is not upset or angry. Wait till he is calm and at ease. Then tell him what you must, but end up with an encouraging word – for example, that from now on you want to be his friend and you will help him all you can."

"[Concerning corrections:]
Have charity, patience, gentleness, never give humiliating reprimands, never inflict punishments, do good to all you can, and evil to no one."

"Strive to make people love you rather than fear you. When commanding or correcting, always make those concerned understand that you are prompted by a desire to do them good and not by a whim. Put up with anything if it is a question of avoiding sin. Direct every effort to your boys’ spiritual well-being."

"Do not reprimand or correct when you are angry or upset, lest your pupils attribute it to anger, but wait, even a few days if necessary, until you have calmed down."

"When anyone is admonished by his superiors about a shortcoming or fault, he should not feel that his superior thinks less of him. That’s not so at all! We all fail in one thing or another. The admonition comes from a friend who loves sincerely, and where there is love, there is also esteem. Likewise, let no one gauge his superior’s esteem by a look of his. Sometimes, because one thinks that a superior has not smiled at him or greeted him or spoken to him, he is saddened and wonders why. The reason could possibly be many, other than dissatisfaction with someone’s conduct. It might just be an oversight or a preoccupation with other matters, but it never means that he has something against you. If he does not admonish you, it is only because he has no reason to. It is not our custom to wait for a fault to be repeated, so as to make a rebuke more effective. By no means! If we have something to say, we say it."

"The boy who cannot put up with offenses, or who cannot accept a reprimand, even undeserved, from his superiors or parents, is still far behind in virtue."

"If you must admonish someone, do it privately and most kindly."

"Be careful not to ridicule a boy because of some fault of his, especially in his companions’ presence."

"In general, do not wait for several transgressions before you correct anyone. Speak immediately and plainly. Praise those who mend their ways and encourage the slothful."

Read other quotations by Don Bosco

Quotations about alcoholism Quotations about angels Quotations about beauty Quotations about blessing Quotations about confession Quotations about faith in God Quotations about fasting Quotations about fighting against evil forces Quotations about fornication Quotations about God Quotations about happiness Quotations about He and She Quotations about Holy Communion Quotations about honoring your father and your mother Quotations about illnesses Quotations about life after death Quotations about laziness Quotations about love Quotations about mercy

Quotations about miracles Quotations about monkhood Quotations about money Quotations about Orthodoxy Quotations about overcoming fear Quotations about prayer Quotations about sainthood Quotations about sense of life Quotations about sin Quotations about suffering Quotations about temptations Quotations about time Quotations about the Church Quotations about the truth Quotations about upbringing children Quotations about Word of God Quotations about work Quotations by Don Bosco Other christian quotations