“As it is not possible to walk without feet or fly without wings, so it is impossible to attain the Kingdom of Heaven without the fulfillment of the commandments.” InspirationalChristianHeavenReligiousWalksImpossibleFeetWingsKingdomsFulfillmentOrthodoxCommandmentsKingdom Of Heaven Author:Theophan the Recluse
“The Commandments of God are higher than all the treasures of the earth. Whoever has acquired them has received God within himself.” InspirationalEarthChristianReligiousHigherTreasureOrthodoxCommandmentsCommandments Of God Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“The Holy Apostle John the Theologian says that the commandments of God are not difficult, but easy (I John, 5:3). But they are only easy because of love, while they are all difficult if there is no love.” IfsInspirationalChristianEasyDifficultReligiousHolyOrthodoxCommandmentsTheologianApostlesNo LoveChristian LoveCommandments Of God Author:Silouan the Athonite
“God requires not the doing of the commandments for their own sake, but the correction of the soul, for whose sake He established the commandments.” InspirationalSoulChristianReligiousSakeOrthodoxCommandmentsCorrections Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“In all of our deeds God looks at the intention, whether we do it for His sake, or for the sake of some other intention.” InspirationalLooksChristianReligiousIntentionSakeDeedsOrthodox Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Every time that we sin, we are born of the devil. But every time that we do good, we are born of God.” InspirationalChristianBornReligiousSinDevilOrthodox Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“We abide in God insofar as we do not sin.” InspirationalChristianReligiousSinOrthodox Author:Venerable Bede
“Do not disdain the commandment to love, for through it you become a son of God, and when you break it, you become a son of Gehenna.” InspirationalChristianReligiousBreakSonOrthodoxCommandmentsDisdain Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble" (James, 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good deeds toward one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, and sober use of things.” IfsInspirationalBelieveUseActionChristianChristReligiousMereDeedsNeighborDemonOrthodoxSoberGood DeedsHeartfeltMagnanimityChrist Alone Author:Maximus the Confessor
“As God illumines all people equally with the light of the sun, so do those who desire to imitate God let shine an equal ray of love on all people. For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is love, then hatred is the devil. Therefore as one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the devil within himself.” PeopleIfsInspirationalLightChristianDesireReligiousSunEqualDevilHatredShiningDisappearOrthodoxRaysNurtureGod Is Love Author:Saint Basil
“"Love covers a multitude of sins," (I Pet. 4:8). That is, for love towards one's neighbor, God forgives the sins of the one who loves.” InspirationalChristianReligiousSinForgivingNeighborPetOrthodoxMultitudesChristian LoveGod Forgives Author:Theophan the Recluse
“Love is the fruit of prayer ... Patiently abiding in prayer signifies a man's renunciation of himself. Therefore the self-denial of the soul turns into love for God.” MenInspirationalSoulSelfChristianTurnsReligiousPrayerLove IsFruitDenialGod LoveOrthodoxAbidingRenunciationSelf-denial Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love of God. For love toward God does not at all tolerate hatred for man.” MenInspirationalKindDoeChristianReligiousSinHatredAccountsGod LoveOrthodoxTolerate Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Who is far from love is a bad state, and to be pitied. He passes his days in a delirious dream, far from God, deprived of light, and he lives in darkness ... Whoever does not have the love of Christ is an enemy of Christ. He walks in darkness and is easily lead into any sin.” InspirationalDoeStatesDreamLightChristianChristReligiousSinWalksLove IsEnemyDarknessOrthodoxDeprivedDelirious Author:Ephrem the Syrian
“Whoever has known the love of God loves the whole world and never murmurs against his fate, for the burden of sorrow for the sake of God gains eternal joy.” WorldInspirationalWholeChristianJoyReligiousKnownFateSorrowEternalGainsSakeBurdenWhole WorldGod LoveOrthodox Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Love is manifested not only through the distribution of one's possessions, but even moreso through the spreading of the word of God and helpful deeds.” InspirationalChristianReligiousLove IsDeedsPossessionHelpfulOrthodoxWord Of GodDistribution Author:Maximus the Confessor
“What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers ... For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)” KnowsWayInspirationalSaidChristianDesireFatherReligiousEnemyLove YouBrotherCrossesPerfectionForgivingOrthodoxLukeYour BrotherHanging OnLove Your Enemies Author:Saint Augustine
“Let there always be a preponderance of mercy with you, even though you don't feel such mercy in yourself, as God has for the world ... A cruel and merciless heart is never purified. A merciful man is the doctor of his own soul, because as it were a by a strong wind from is heart he drives out the darkness of the passions.” MenWorldInspirationalFeelsHeartSoulChristianPassionStrongReligiousDarknessWindDoctorsMercyOrthodoxMercifulStrong Winds Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“If you begin to guard wealth it will not be yours. But if you begin to distribute it, you will not lose it.” IfsInspirationalChristianLosesReligiousWealthOrthodox Author:Saint Basil
“Do you think that the man-loving God has given you much so that you could use it only for your own benefit? No, but so that your abundance might supply the lack of others.” ThinkingMenInspirationalUseMightChristianGivenReligiousBenefitsAbundanceOrthodoxLoving God Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“If you are truly merciful, then when what is yours is unjustly taken, don't be sad inside, and do not tell of our loss to your neighbor. Let a better loss, inflicted by those who insult you, be absorbed by your mercy.” IfsInspirationalChristianReligiousLossTakenMercyNeighborInsultOrthodoxMercifulInsults YouDon't Be Sad Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“Some suffer much from poverty and sickness, but are not humbled, and so they suffer without profit. But one who is humbled will be happy in all circumstances, because the Lord is his riches and joy, and all people will wonder at the beauty of his soul.” PeopleInspirationalSoulChristianJoySufferingReligiousWonderLordPovertyCircumstancesProfitRichesSicknessOrthodox Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Let them push you, but do not push; Let them crucify you, but do not crucify. Let them insult, but do not insult. Let them slander, but do not slander. Be meek, and do not be zealous in evil.” InspirationalChristianEvilReligiousInsultOrthodoxSlanderMeekZealous Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“As fire is not extinguished by fire, so anger is not conquered by anger, but is made even more inflamed. But meekness often subdues even the most beastly enemies, softens them and pacifies them.” InspirationalMadeChristianReligiousEnemyFireOrthodoxMeeknessBeastly Author:Tikhon of Zadonsk
“Love hunger and thirst for the sake of Christ. Insofar as you pacify your body, so much much will you do make your soul virtuous. God, who rewards thoughts, words, and deeds, will give good in return for even a small thing which you gladly suffer for His sake.” InspirationalGivingSoulBodyChristianSufferingChristReligiousReturnRewardsSakeHungerDeedsYour BodyYour SoulOrthodoxVirtuousThirstSmall ThingsHunger And Thirst Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“You must teach yourself how to eat less, but with discernment, insofar as your work allows. The measure of temperance should be such that after lunch you want to pray.” WantInspirationalShouldChristianReligiousTeachPrayingOrthodoxLunchDiscernmentTemperance Author:Silouan the Athonite
“By obedience a man is guarded against pride. Prayer is given for the sake of obedience. The grace of the Holy Spirit is also given for obedience. This is why obedience is higher than prayer and fasting.” MenInspirationalChristianSpiritGivenReligiousPrayerGracePrideHigherHolySakeObedienceHoly SpiritOrthodoxFastingGuardedPrayer And Fasting Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Obedience is necessary not only for monks, but for all people. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and self-regarding do not allow grace to live in them, and therefore they never have spiritual peace, while in the obedient soul the grace of the Holy Spirit enters easily and gives joy and peace. Whoever bears even a little grace in himself joyfully submits himself to all direction. He knows that God directs even the heavens and the netherworld, and himself, and his business, and everything in the world, and therefore he is always at peace.” PeopleKnowsWorldInspirationalGivingLittlesSoulSelfChristianSpiritualJoySpiritHeavenReligiousLordGraceBearsProudHolyObedienceHoly SpiritOrthodoxSubmitMonkObedientSpiritual Peace Author:Silouan the Athonite
“A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of it: for example, for food, or for women, or for riches, or for worldly glory, or any other sensible thing; or for the sake of such things, as in a senseless hatred for someone on account of the things mentioned above.” InspirationalSoulChristianPassionReligiousExampleMovementMaterialsGloryHatredAccountsSakeRichesOrthodoxSensibleIrrationalWorldlyMaterial ThingsBlindfolds Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Some passions are bodily, other spiritual. Bodily passions have their sources in the body, while spiritual ones come from external things. But love and temperance cut out both the one and the other: Love cuts out spiritual passions, and temperance bodily ones.” InspirationalBodyChristianSpiritualPassionReligiousCuttingSourceOrthodoxTemperance Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to the perfection of virtue.” InspirationalUseChristianSpiritPassionReligiousVirtueAngelPerfectionIncreaseOrthodoxDecreaseNegligence Author:Maximus the Confessor
“It is one thing to be delivered from bad thoughts, and another to be freed from the passions. Often people are delivered from thoughts, when they do not have before their eyes those things which produce passion. But the passions for them remain hidden in the soul, and when the things appear again the passions are revealed. Therefore it is necessary to guard the mind when these things appear, and to know toward which things you have a passion.” PeopleKnowsInspirationalMindSoulEyeChristianPassionReligiousOne ThingProduceOrthodoxBad Thoughts Author:Maximus the Confessor
“The mind of a man that loves God does not fight against things or thoughts about them, but against the passions that are connected with these thoughts. That is, he does not struggle against a woman, or against one who has insulted him, and not against the images of them, but against the passions that are aroused by these images.” MenInspirationalMindDoeChristianFightingPassionReligiousStruggleConnectedGod LoveOrthodoxInsultedInsulted Him Author:Maximus the Confessor
“The worst kind of sin is not to acknowledge that you are sinful.” InspirationalKindChristianReligiousSinWorstAcknowledgeOrthodox Author:Caesarius of Arles
“Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, "You are a saint," the other, "You won't be saved." Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins.” PeopleThinkingWayInspirationalTwoChristianReligiousSinLordEnemyForgivingSaintSavedSinnerOrthodoxMerciful Author:Silouan the Athonite
“There are lots of those who speak but few who do. However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence, but it is better to confess your own weakness, not hiding the truth of God, so that together with the breaking of the commandments you do not also appear guilty of an untrustworthy explanation of the word of God.” InspirationalShouldChristianTogetherSpeakReligiousWeaknessGuiltyExplanationOrthodoxHidingWord Of GodCommandmentsNegligenceTruth Of GodUntrustworthyHiding The Truth Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Whoever prematurely begins a work that is above his strength receives nothing, but only brings harm upon himself.” InspirationalChristianReligiousHarmOrthodox Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“There are people who, when they encounter inability to understand, do not ask the Lord. But one must immediately say, "Lord, I am a sinful man and I don't understand as I should. But give me understanding, merciful One, as to how I must proceed." And the merciful Lord then inspires them as to what to do and what not to do.” PeopleMenInspirationalGivingShouldChristianAsksUnderstandingReligiousLordInspireGive MeEncountersOrthodoxInabilityMerciful Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Amma Theodora said: A certain monk, afflicted by many sorrows, said to himself, "Leave this place." With these words he began to put his sandals on his feet, and suddenly he saw the devil in the form of a man sitting in the corner of his cell. The devil was also putting on his sandals. He said to the monk, "Are you leaving here because of me? Well then, wherever you go, I will be there before you."” MenInspirationalWellsSaidChristianFormCertainReligiousSawsFeetSorrowDevilSittingLeavingCornersCellsOrthodoxMonkSandalsAmma Author:Ignatius Bryanchaninov
“If a man does not argue with the thoughts that the enemy secretly sows in us, but by prayer to God uproots conversation with them, this is a sign that his mind has attained wisdom, and that he has found a short path.” IfsMenInspirationalMindDoeChristianFoundReligiousPrayerEnemyPathConversationArguingOrthodox Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“It is impossible to keep spiritual peace if we do not take care of the mind, that is if we do not drive out thoughts that are displeasing to God and, on the contrary, keep thoughts which are pleasing to God. It is necessary to look into the heart with mind and see what is done there. Is it peaceful or not? If not, then find out in what you have sinned.” IfsInspirationalMindLooksHeartDoneCareChristianSpiritualReligiousImpossibleTake CareContraryPeacefulOrthodoxSpiritual Peace Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Do not seek earthly glory in any matter, for it is extinguished for him who loves it. In its time it blows on a man like a strong wind, and then quickly, taking from him the fruits of his good works, it goes away from him, laughing at his foolishness.” MenInspirationalMatterChristianStrongReligiousLaughingWindGloryFruitBlowOrthodoxWorking ItGood WorkFoolishnessStrong Winds Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“The Lord bears all the weaknesses of men, but He does not bear a man who is always murmuring, and does not leave Him without chastisement.” MenInspirationalDoeChristianReligiousLordBearsWeaknessOrthodoxChastisementMurmuringWeakness Of Man Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“If suffer some misfortune, then think: "The Lord sees my heart, and if it pleases Him, it will be well both for me and and others." And thus your soul will always be at peace. But is someone murmurs, "This is bad, and that is bad," then he will never have peace in his soul, even though he fasts and prays a lot.” IfsThinkingInspirationalWellsHeartSoulChristianSufferingReligiousLordPrayingMy HeartPleaseYour SoulOrthodoxMisfortunes Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, but strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your own sins. This is the benefit of anger, wherefore God placed it in us.” InspirationalSoulChristianReligiousSinTerribleBenefitsBeatsConscienceAngryYour SoulJudgementOrthodoxStrictPunisher Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“Gluttony and satiety in food produce defiled lust, while free association with women enflames the fire of lusts ... At the time of struggle with defilement, punish your thoughts with lack of nourishment, so that you will think not of defilements, but of hunger, and reject the invitation to go visiting.” ThinkingInspirationalChristianReligiousStruggleFireProduceHungerLustRejectsOrthodoxAssociationInvitationsNourishmentVisitingGluttonySatietyDefilement Author:Nilus of Sinai
“Don't let your eyes look here and there, and don't look on someone elses' beauty, so that the devil will not conquer you with the help of your eyes.” InspirationalLooksHelpingEyeChristianReligiousDevilConquerOrthodoxHere And There Author:Ephrem the Syrian
“When you want to make a beginning of a good deed, first prepare for temptations, which will come to you, and don't doubt the truth of that which you do for God.” WantInspirationalFirstsChristianReligiousDoubtDeedsTemptationOrthodoxGood Deeds Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“No one can sense his own weakness is at least a small temptation is not allowed to afflict either his body or his soul. Then, comparing his weakness to the help of God, a man comes to know its magnitude. But whoever does not know that he needs God's help, let him make many prayers. Insofar as he multiplies them, in that measure will he be humbled.” KnowsMenInspirationalNeedsDoeSoulHelpingBodyChristianReligiousPrayerWeaknessTemptationCompareOrthodoxMagnitudeNeed God Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“There is no man who will not be grieved at the time of his chastisement; and there is not man who will not endure a bitter time, when he must drink the poison of temptations. Without them, it is not possible to obtain a strong will. When he has often experienced the help of God in temptations, a man also obtains strong faith.” MenInspirationalHelpingChristianStrongReligiousDrinkEndureBitterTemptationPoisonOrthodoxStrong WillChastisementStrong Faith Author:Isaac of Nineveh