His tact taught him that souls are worthy of being won by better means.

This almost complete absence of the marvellous[10] is by so much the more remarkable that it is in absolute contradiction with the tendencies of his time.[11] Open the life of his disciple, St.Anthony of Padua ([Cross] 1231); it is a tiresome catalogue of prodigies, healings, resurrections.

One would say it was rather the prospectus of some druggist who had invented a new drug than a call to men to conversion and a higher life.

It may interest invalids or devotees, but neither the heart nor the conscience is touched by it.

It must be said in justice to Anthony of Padua that his relations with Francis appear to have been very slight.