John Lancaster Spalding on Perfection

“To love the perfection with which we do our work, or the company of those with whom we work, is the secret of learning to love the work itself.”

“Perfection is beyond our reach, but they who earnestly strive to become perfect, acquire excellences and virtues of which the multitude have no conception.”

“Place before thyself the ideal of perfection, not that of happiness, for by doing what makes thee wiser and better, thou shalt find the peace and joy in which happiness consists.”