"If they do not grow, they are not desires."

Encyclopaedia Britannica

"When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. . . .  Holy desires likewise . . . grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires."

"actumque est ut desideria dilata crescerent, et crescentia caperunt quod invenissent. . . .  Sancta enim desideria . . . dilatione crescent.  Si autem dilatione deficient, desideria non fuerunt."

     Pope Gregory the Great, Homily 25.2, as translated somewhat loosely by the Liturgy of the hours (Office of readings, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene), which does not mark the two lacunae.  SC 522, ed. Raymond Etaix (2008), ; CCSL 141, ed. Raymond Etaix (1999), ; PL 76, col. 1190.