Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Dorotheus of Gaza

Quote by Dorotheus of Gaza

Work

Discourses and Sayings

This book compiles a series of discourses and sayings that explore various philosophical and moral concepts, offering insights into the thoughts and wisdom of the author. more

Author

Dorotheus of Gaza
Dorotheus of Gaza

Dorotheus of Gaza (505-565 AD) was an influential Christian theologian and abbot. His life and achievements are shrouded in some mystery, but his writings hold significant importance in the field of Christian theology. more

You May Also Like

“When the devil looks at a man who sincerely desires not to sin, he is not so unintelligent as to suggest to him (as he would to a hardened sinner) that he go and commit fornication or go and steal. He knows we do not want that and he does not set out to tell us something we do not want to hear; but he finds out that little bit of self-will or self-righteousness and through that, with the appearance of well doing, he will do us harm.”

KnowsMenWantWellsLooksLittlesDoeSelfChristianDesireBitsSinLittle BitDevilAppearanceHarmStealingCommitSinnerOrthodoxRighteousnessSincerelyOrthodox ChristianHardenedSelf RighteousnessSelf WillUnintelligent
Author:Dorotheus of Gaza
Create image

“If one of you sees, sometime, something unedifying and so much as goes on to pass it on and put it into the heart of another brother, in doing so you not only harm yourself but you harm your brother by putting one more little bit of knavery into his heart. Even if that brother has his mind set on prayer or some other noble activity, and the first arrives and furnishes him with something to prate about, he not only impedes what he ought to be doing, but brings a temptation on him. There is nothing graver or more deadly than this doing harm, not only to himself but also to his neighbor.”

IfsMindFirstsHeartLittlesChristianBitsPrayerBrotherGoes OnOughtActivityLittle BitHarmNobleNeighborTemptationOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianYour BrotherMind SetKnavery
Author:Dorotheus of Gaza
Create image

“Self-indulgence takes many forms. A man may be self-indulgent in speech, in touch, in sight. From self-indulgence a man comes to idle speech and worldly talk, to buffoonery and cracking indecent jokes. There is self-indulgence in touching without necessity, making mocking signs with the hands, pushing for a place, snatching up something for oneself, approaching someone else shamelessly. All these things come from not having the fear of God in the soul and from these a man comes little by little to perfect contempt.”

MenMayLittlesSoulSelfHandsChristianFormPerfectSpeechJokesSightOneselfPushingOrthodoxTouchingContemptIdleWorldlyIndulgenceSelf IndulgenceSelf Indulgent
Author:Dorotheus of Gaza
Create image

“Only the Holy Spirit can purify the intellect, for unless a greater power comes and overthrows the despoiler, what he has taken captive will never be set free (cf. Lk. 11:21-22). In every way, therefore, and especially through peace of soul, we must make ourselves a dwelling-place for the Holy Spirit.”

WaySoulChristianSpiritTakenGreaterHolyIntellectHoly SpiritOrthodoxDwellingOrthodox ChristianCaptivesCfsGreater PowerDwelling PlacePeace Of Soul
Author:Diadochos of Photiki
Create image

“Sin is one thing but instinctive reaction or passion is another. These are our reactions: pride, anger, sexual indulgence, hate, greed, and so on. The corresponding sins are the gratification of these passions: when a man acts and brings into corporeal reality those works which were suggested to him by his desires. It is impossible to exist without desires arising, but not to give way to them is by no means impossible.”

MenWayGivingMeanRealityChristianDesireHatePassionSinImpossibleOne ThingPrideGreedReactionsOrthodoxGratificationIndulgenceOrthodox ChristianCorresponding
Book:Discourses and Sayings
Create image

“What brings us to perfection? An ingrained faith in God, the 'faith that makes real the things for which we hope' (Heb. 11:1), the faith whereby Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain and was commended as righteous (cf. Heb 11:4). It is such faith that fills those assiduous in the search for truth with great aspiration for the exalted gifts of God, and leads them to the spiritual knowledge of created beings; and it pours into their hearts the inexhaustible treasures of the Spirit.”

HeartRealChristianSpiritualSpiritSacrificePerfectionTreasureAspirationOrthodoxRighteousFaith In GodOrthodox ChristianExaltedGift From GodCfsCainSearch For TruthSpiritual KnowledgeAbel
Author:Niketas Stethatos
Create image

“It is well known that obedience is the chief among the initiatory virtues, for first it displaces presumption and then it engenders humility within us. Thus it becomes, for those who willingly embrace it, a door leading to the love of God? Thus humility should be the first concern of those who are fighting against the presumption of the devil, for as we advance it will be a sure guide to all the paths of virtue.”

ShouldFirstsWellsChristianFightingKnownVirtuePathDoorsHumilityDevilConcernEmbraceGuidesChiefsObedienceGod LoveOrthodoxWell KnownOrthodox ChristianPresumption
Author:Diadochos of Photiki
Create image

“At the beginning of the struggle the holy commandments of God must be fulfilled with a certain forcefulness of will (cf. Mt. 11:12); then the Lord, seeing our intention and labour, will grant us readiness of will and gladness in obeying His purposes. For 'it is the Lord who makes ready the will' (Prov. 8:35 LXX), so that we always do what is right joyfully. Then shall we truly feel that 'it is God who energizes in you both the willing and the doing of His purpose' (Phil. 2:13).”

FeelsChristianPurposeCertainLordStruggleSeeingWillingReadyHolyIntentionLabourOrthodoxGrantsFulfilledCommandmentsReadinessGladnessObeyingCfsCommandments Of God
Author:Diadochos of Photiki
Create image