50 St. Francis of Assisi Quotes from the Patron Saint for Ecologists

St. Francis of Assisi was known for his love of animals and nature, as you’ll see in these St. Francis of Assisi quotes. 

Even though he didn’t live to be 50 years old, Saint Francis of Assisi impacted the world.

So much so that they canonized him as a saint just a few short years after he passed away.

Tell us your favorite St. Francis of Assisi quote in the comment section below.

What are the benefits of reading these St. Francis of Assisi quotes?

He is known as the saint for ecologists because he had a love of nature and animals. 

And while some thought he was perhaps a little “crazy” because he preached even to animals, the message he shared drew many people in.

We can learn many lessons from St. Francis of Assisi about:

• life and the best way to live it
• the power of prayer and spirituality
• the relationship between humans, animals, and nature

So, enjoy these St. Francis of Assisi quotes.

And don’t forget to check out these spiritual saint quotes that are good for the soul.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration. 

Check out our inspirational quotes category page for more inspirational life quotes.

St. Francis of Assisi quotes about Life

1. “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

2. “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” – St. Francis of Assisi

3. “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” – St. Francis of Assisi

4. “What do you have to fear? Nothing. Whom do you have to fear? No one. Why? Because whoever has joined forces with God obtains three great privileges: omnipotence without power, intoxication without wine, and life without death.” – St. Francis of Assisi

5. “Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to His beloved is that of overcoming self.” – St. Francis of Assisi

6. “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” – St. Francis of Assisi

7. “I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.” – St. Francis of Assisi

8. “Where there is injury let me sow pardon.” – St. Francis of Assisi

9. “Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing you have received, but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.” – St. Francis of Assisi

10. “He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” – St. Francis of Assisi

You will also enjoy our article on Frozen quotes

St. Francis of Assisi quotes about prayer

11. “Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.” – St. Francis of Assisi

12. “O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” – St. Francis of Assisi

13. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” – St. Francis of Assisi

14. “God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me a right faith, a sure hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out your holy command.” – St. Francis of Assisi

15. “My God and My All!” – St. Francis of Assisi

16. “The Lord bless you and keep you.  May He show His face to you and have mercy. May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.  The Lord bless you!” – St. Francis of Assisi

17. “Heavenly Father, you created all things for your glory and made us stewards of this creature If it is your will, restore it to health and strength. Blessed are you, Lord God, and holy is your name forever and ever. Amen.” – St. Francis of Assisi

18. “Our hands imbibe like roots, so I place them on what is beautiful in this world. And I fold them in prayer, and they draw from the heavens light.” – St. Francis of Assisi

19. “Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer.” – St. Francis of Assisi

If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of spiritual quotes to help you feel connected to a higher power.

20. “Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer, and never cease working.” – St. Francis of Assisi

You may also enjoy these St. Clare of Assisi quotes.

St. Francis of Assisi quotes about animals and nature

21. “God requires that we assist the animals when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection.” – St. Francis of Assisi

22. “Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.” – St. Francis of Assisi

23. “All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. God wants us to help animals if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.” – St. Francis of Assisi

24. “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” – St. Francis of Assisi

25. “Holy obedience confounds all bodily and fleshly desires and keeps the body mortified to the obedience of the spirit and to the obedience of one’s brother and makes a man subject to all the men of this world and not to men alone, but also to all beasts and wild animals, so that they may do with him whatsoever they will, in so far as it may be granted to them from above by the Lord.” – St. Francis of Assisi

26. “A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world, as the vibrations you are receiving are of pure love and contentment.” – St. Francis of Assisi

27. “You call it a sin, that I love the dog above all else? The dog stayed with me in the storm, the man, not even in the wind.” – St. Francis of Assisi

28. “Be praised, O my Lord by Brother Wind, By air and cloud and every clime To whom Thou givest sustenance unto their kind.” – St. Francis of Assisi

29. “Pleased be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendours and bears likeness of you, Most High One.” – St. Francis of Assisi

30. “Be Thou praised, my Lord, of our Sister Mother Earth, which sustains and hath us in rule, and produces divers fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.” – St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi quotes on spirituality

31. “Everything in man should halt in awe…Let all the world quake and let Heaven exult when Christ the Son of the living God is there on the altar.” – St. Francis of Assisi

32. “Do not put off any longer confessing all your sins, for death will soon come. Give and it will be given you; forgive and you will be forgiven. . . Blessed are they who die repentant, for they shall go to the Kingdom of Heaven!” – St. Francis of Assisi

33. “I beg you to show the greatest possible reverence and honor for the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things, whether on earth or in heaven, have been brought to peace and reconciled with Almighty God.” – St. Francis of Assisi

34. “May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love.” – St. Francis of Assisi

35. “Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.” – St. Francis of Assisi

36. “I believe that You, O Jesus, are in the most holy Sacrament. I love You and desire You. Come into my heart. I embrace You. Oh, never leave me. May the burning and most sweet power of Your love, O Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech You, absorb my mind that I may die through love of Your love, Who were graciously pleased to die through love of my love.” – St. Francis of Assisi

37. “We adore Thee most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here in all Thy Churches, which are in the whole world, because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.” – St. Francis of Assisi

38. “I beg you to show the greatest possible reverence and honor for the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things, whether on earth or in heaven, have been brought to peace and reconciled with Almighty God.” – St. Francis of Assisi

39. “It is good to read the testimonies of Scripture; it is good to seek the Lord our God in them. As for me, however, I have already made so much of Scripture my own that I have more than enough to meditate on and turn over in my mind. I need no more . .. I know Christ, the poor crucified One.” – St. Francis of Assisi

40. “Our actions are our own; their consequences belong to Heaven.” – St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi quotes about giving

41. “Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally.” – St. Francis of Assisi

42. “It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn’t give to someone in greater need than we are.” – St. Francis of Assisi

43. “Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.” – St. Francis of Assisi

44. “You cannot all abandon your possessions, but at least you can change your attitude about them. All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others.” – St. Francis of Assisi

45. “All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others.” – St. Francis of Assisi
If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of giving quotes about the power of generosity.

46. “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” – St. Francis of Assisi

47. “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.” – St. Francis of Assisi

48. “Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these, they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.” – St. Francis of Assisi

49. “What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.” – St. Francis of Assisi

50. “Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.” – St. Francis of Assisi

What did you learn from these St. Francis of Assisi quotes?

Did any of these St. Francis of Assisi quotes jump out at you?

Do you have a strong love of animals and nature and can relate to his feelings and thoughts?

His quotes can motivate you into action, provide insight or encouragement and even help you feel you’re not so alone in your thinking and beliefs. 

There is a reason people were drawn to what he shared and why we’re still reading his quotes nearly 800 years later.

Read through them and find the reasons you think these words have been remembered throughout centuries.

What’s your biggest takeaway from these St. Francis of Assisi quotes and sayings?

Do you have any other inspirational quotes to add?

Let us know in the comment section below.