The fruits of the earth are not brought to perfection immediately, but by time, rain and care similarly, the fruits of men ripen through ascetic practice, study, time, perseverance, self-control and patience.

I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, What can get through from such snares? Then I heard a voice saying to me, Humility.

This is the great work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God, and toexpect temptation to his last breath.

To say that God turns away from the sinful is like saying that the sun hides from the blind.

The person who abides in solitude and quiet is delivered from fighting three battles: hearing, speech, and sight. Then there remains one battle to fight-the battle of the heart.

Expect temptation to your last breath.

Whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes whatever you do, do it according to the testimony of the holy Scriptures in whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts and you will be saved.

. . . you should know that there is present with you the angel whom God has appointed for each man. . . This angel, who is sleepless and cannot be deceived, is always present with you he sees all things and is not hindered by darkness. You should know, too, that with him is God.

One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do those who have reached it find it easy to maintain.