None of us could endure the plots of the enemy, or allay the fiery turmoil of our nature, if God’s grace did not protect our human weakness.

Abba Apollos

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It is better to yield. If you insist on fairness, it is the same as a paper ruble, but if you yield, it is a silver ruble.

St. Ambrose of Optina

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Christianity has hallowed marriage, for the union of husband and wife assumed its true meaning only when it became a symbol of the union between Christ and His Church.

Protopriest Gregory Dyachenko

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Have you ever planted a garden? Then you are aware how much care goes into every act: the preparing of the soil, the sowing of the seed, the watering of the seedling, the pruning of the mature plant. So it must be with prayer. True prayer is not the accident of happenstance, but the ripe fruit of the well-tended garden of the heart.

Bishop Irenei Steenberg

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That which is around me or upon me does not constitute myself; even my flesh, with which I am clothed, and of which I consist, as a portion of my earthly being, does not constitute my real self.

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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Much effort and labor is needed, for a man to be changed and to be the good tree that brings forth good fruit. Strive, then, for nothing else but to change, renew, and correct yourself. And pray for this...

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

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The person who loves someone sincerely strives to do everything possible that is pleasant to him and avoids doing what is displeasing. He does not grieve or, even more so, offend or insult that person. Correspondingly, if we love God we will at all costs try to fulfill His holy will, to subject our will to the demands of the divine commandments, doing this naturally, not like slaves by force or reluctantly, complaining, displeased, but joyfully, like loving children.

Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

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Whoever gains the ability to see his own sinfulness sees not individual sins, but the complete distortion of his soul, which constantly exudes all manner of evil. What’s more, he sees that even his good deeds are saturated with the poison of sin. When a man sees this clearly, and likewise becomes convinced after a thousand incidents that he cannot heal the leprosy of his soul on his own, then he will genuinely (not artificially) humble himself, will stop judging others, and no longer take offense when his feelings are hurt.

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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In spite of the fact that you are weak and imperfect, you are truly guilty for all the wrong things you do. Since you possess a will, all that comes forth from you is subject to that will. So in this sense, everything good counts in your favor and everything bad counts against you.

Fr. Jack Sparks

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The Lord desires the salvation of each and every person. But not everyone wants to be saved. In word they all desire it, but in deed they reject it. How do they reject it? Not through sin, because there were many great sinners, like the thief, Saint Mary of Egypt and others. They repented of their sins and the Lord forgave them, and thus they achieved salvation. The ones who perish are the ones who sin but do not repent and only justify their transgressions.

Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

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Every task that we begin is difficult. We will labor a little now, but later we will rejoice in the eternal good things. If we do not labor, we will not find Christ.

Gerondissa Makrina (Vassopoulou)

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The Lord allows us to be tossed by various passions in this life in order that we may hate these passions with all our heart, that we may look upon everything earthly as nothing, however precious and pleasant it may appear, and that we may long with all our hearts for God alone...

Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

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