Catherine di Giacomo di Benincasa of Sienna, Italy became a Dominican nun at the age of 18. Until her death at the age of 33, Catherine of Sienna lived a life marked by deep devotion to God. In these words from her work The Dialog, she concisely portrays how the things we choose to care about most will direct the motives of our hearts.
For just as the feet carry the body, the affections carry the soul.
It is beautiful, though I like your paraphrase.