Where there are no labors, there are stagnation and the extinction of the sparks of life.

St. Theophan the Recluse

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In order to test yourself, whether you love your neighbour in accordance with the Gospel, pay attention to yourself at the time when others offend you... If you remain calm on such occasions, are not filled with the spirit of enmity, hatred, impatience — if you continue to love these persons as much as previously, before their offences or negligence, then you do love your neighbour in accordance with the Gospel.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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Faith and love are inseparable between them and one relates to the other, and confirms one another and defines each other, and wherever one is absent the other is also absent from there and wherever one is found the other is found there too. Amen.

Elder Arsenios Galanopoulos, the Cave-dweller

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A man becomes entirely human when he comes to self-awareness and independence of mind, when he becomes the complete master and commander of his own ideas and deeds and holds certain ideas not because others have given these to him, but because he himself finds them to be true. A man, when he becomes a Christian, still remains a man, and therefore in his Christianity he must also be rational, only this rationality he should turn to the profit of holy faith. Let him become rationally convinced that the holy faith which he confesses is the only faithful path of salvation, and that all other paths which are not in agreement with it lead to perdition. It is no honor to a man to be a blind confessor; he must be a conscious confessor, so that acting in this way, he acts as he should.

St. Theophan the Recluse, bishop of Tambov

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Even in conversations, we must be careful, because sometimes they begin as spiritual conversations and end up as gossip. And it is not only that we are wasting our time; we are also wasting our souls when condemning someone else, for we have no right to judge other people or other situations.

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

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Consider yourself worse and more infirm than all others in spiritual respects, and despise, hate yourself for your sins, — this is pious and right— and be indulgent to others, respect and love them in spite of their sins...

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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As a novice, when I read something I liked, I wrote it down so as not to forget it, and I would try to apply it to my life. I didn’t read just to pass my time pleasantly. I had a spiritual restlessness and, when I could not understand something, I would ask for an explanation. I read relatively little, but I checked myself a great deal on what I read. “What point am I at? What must I do?” I would sit myself down and go through such a self-examination.

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

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Because happiness in both this world and the next consists of doing God's will, the Holy Fathers, as experts in the spiritual life, beckon us to pay careful attention to our conscience. If we do so, they tell us, then it will reliably and precisely show us the clear and direct will of God. They term this the "guarding of one's conscience."

Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

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One must not demand too much of oneself. It is best to humble oneself before God. Open yourself to Him in all your filthiness and say, like the leper: Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean (Luke 5:12). Do not put time limits on God for this. Do all that is needed according to your strength, and the Lord will do everything necessary for your salvation. Just do not forsake God.

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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Rejoice, my brethren, in thinking that together with this short life there will also end all our earthly sorrows, needs, and suffering, which merciful providence sends for our spiritual good.

Protopriest Gregory Dyachenko

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I constantly think of those who lived a wretched life and are now struggling; I love and cherish them more than those who do not suffer from passions. Even a shepherd will be more compassionate with the injured or sickly sheep and will give it more attentive care until it gets back on its feet again.

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

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With sincere Christians prayer is continual, because we continually sin; gratitude is perpetual, because every day, every moment we receive fresh mercies from God, besides the old mercies which are numberless. Praise is also perpetual, because we perpetually see the glory of our God’s works in ourselves and in the world, especially the glory of His infinite love to us.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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When someone begins to say, 'What does it matter if I say that word, eat that little morsel, feast my eyes on that?' he falls into bad habits and runs the risk of gradually falling into insensibility. For both virtues and vices start from slight things and lead to greater ones, either good or bad.

Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

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Fasts and vigils, the study of Scripture, renouncing possessions and everything worldly are not in themselves perfection, as we have said; they are its tools. For perfection is not to be found in them; it is acquired through them. It is useless, therefore, to boast of our fasting, vigils, poverty, and reading of Scripture when we have not achieved the love of God and our fellow men. Whoever has achieved love has God within himself and his intellect is always with God.

St. John Cassian

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...excessive conveniences make life difficult for people.

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

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