Paul Sabatier (theologian)  

"The analogy between the inspiration of Peter Waldo and that of St. Francis was so close that one might be tempted to believe the latter a sort of imitation of the former. It would be a mistake the same causes produced in all quarters the same effects ; ideas of reform, of a return to gospel poverty, were in the air, and this helps us to understand how it was that before many years the Francis can preaching reverberated through the entire world. If at the outset the careers of these two men were alike, their later lives were very different. Waldo, driven into heresy almost in spite of himself, was obliged to accept the consequences of the premises which he him self had laid down; while Francis, remaining the obedient son of the Church, bent all his efforts to develop the inner life in himself and his disciples."--Paul Sabatier