Quotes

A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

Solitude

Nothing so fills the heart with contrition and humbles the soul as solitude embraced with self-awareness, and utter silence.

St. Gregory of Sinai

Habit

Be careful not to neglect the small things, take care not to despise them as something insignificant. They are not insignificant; they are cancer for the soul, a bad habit. Let us therefore be vigilant. Let us pay attention to slight things, whilst they are still slight and before they become serious. Both the life of holiness and the sinful life start from little things and lead to greater ones, either good or bad.

St. Dorotheus of Gaza

Tests

As work according to God is called virtue, so unexpected affliction is called a test.

St. Mark the Ascetic

Solitude

Nothing is better for rendering the heart penitent and the soul humble than wise solitude and complete silence.

St. Gregory of Sinai

Solitude

Solitude offers us an excellent opportunity for calming our passions and giving our reason time to remove them thoroughly from our soul. For just as wild animals can be soothed by being stroked, so all our anger, fear and stress, which poison and disrupt our soul, can be soothed by an atmosphere of peace where the freedom from constant disturbance ensures that our soul can be brought more easily under the power of reason.

St. Basil the Great

Vocation

Strive to walk worthily of the vocation to which you were called.

St. Philotheus of Sinai

Habit

Habit forms from custom, and habit seems to accustom itself to nature. It is much worse and more difficult to change nature. However, with God it is possible. For nature does not set itself against God.

St. Basil the Great

Solitude

A fish swiftly escapes a hook and a sensual soul shuns solitude.

St. John Climacus

Solitude

Every man that loves God loves a quiet life.

St. Isaac the Syrian

Solitude

The arrows of the enemy cannot touch one who loves quietness; but he who moves about in a crowd will often be wounded.

St. Nilus of Sinai

Tests

Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13).

St. Macarius the Great

Tests

Grace always precedes temptation, as if to notify you saying, 'Prepare yourself and lock your doors.'

Elder Joseph the Hesychast

Tests

When tested by some trial you should try to find out not why or through whom it came, but only how to endure it gratefully, without distress or rancor.

St. Mark the Ascetic

Habit

Train yourself to cut off an intrusive thought immediately…Be at pains over this, so that you acquire the habit. The soul is a creature of habit: according to the habit you have acquired, so will you act all the rest of your life.

St. Silouan of the Holy Mountain

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Nothing so fills the heart with contrition and humbles the soul as solitude embraced with self-awareness, and utter silence.

As work according to God is called virtue, so unexpected affliction is called a test.

Nothing is better for rendering the heart penitent and the soul humble than wise solitude and complete silence.

Strive to walk worthily of the vocation to which you were called.

Habit forms from custom, and habit seems to accustom itself to nature. It is much worse and more difficult to change nature. However, with God it is possible. For nature does not set itself against God.

A fish swiftly escapes a hook and a sensual soul shuns solitude.

Every man that loves God loves a quiet life.

The arrows of the enemy cannot touch one who loves quietness; but he who moves about in a crowd will often be wounded.

Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13).

Grace always precedes temptation, as if to notify you saying, 'Prepare yourself and lock your doors.'

When tested by some trial you should try to find out not why or through whom it came, but only how to endure it gratefully, without distress or rancor.

Train yourself to cut off an intrusive thought immediately…Be at pains over this, so that you acquire the habit. The soul is a creature of habit: according to the habit you have acquired, so will you act all the rest of your life.

"Nothing is better than to realize one's weakness and ignorance, and nothing is worse than not to be aware of them."

St. Peter of Damascus

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