Jean Nicolas Grou, The Spiritual Maxims of Père Grou (London: J. T. Hayes, 1874), First Maxim, "Of the Knowledge of God and of Self," pp. 6–7

I am absolutely nothing. Throughout eternity I was not, and there was no reason why I should exist, nor why I should be what I am. My existence is the simple effect of God's Will: He bestowed it on me as it pleased Him.…