“They know they meet society’s standard, but have never thought that society’s standard should have nothing to do with their own.”
—David Cain, You don’t want to be typical
Category: DISCERNMENT
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“You must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important—do what’s important first.”
—Steven Pressfield, The War of Art -
“Welcome words of truth and to never reject criticism uncritically.”
—St. Mark the Ascetic
“Are you listening to what I’m saying, or are you just being offended?”
—Fr. Anthony Messeh
“Do not excuse yourself or refuse to be corrected by all; listen to every reproof with a serene countenance; think that God utters it.”
—St. John of the Cross
If it hurts to hear it, look for the truth in it.
—@naval
But if any one’s conscience attacks him, he himself is responsible for it, not my words.
Saint John Chrysostom, On the Vanity of Riches
HOMILY TWO
After Eutropios, having been found outside the church, was taken captive -
If you find yourself in the company of people conversing about either worldly or spiritual matters, give the impression that you too are contributing something, while saying nothing that harms the soul. Bear in mind that you should avoid their praises, lest you appear to them to be silent and are later burdened by this. However, even if you do this, make sure that you do not condemn them as speaking much, simply because you are saying little. For you do not know whether what will burden you will actually be the one word that you have spoken rather than the many words that they have spoken.
“Other Old Man” John, Letters From The Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press Popular Patristics Series) -
A sign of wisdom is not believing everything you think.
—Adam Grant -
Nevertheless, true fidelity towards a person may on occasion impose on us the duty to withdraw altogether from contact with him. In the case where he would constitute a threat to our fidelity to God, and when we on the other hand feel powerless to help him, our breaking off relations with him is still consistent with our true fidelity towards him: it is destined to promote his spiritual good as well as our own, and is therefore involved in our very love for him so far as love in a higher and ultimate sense implies, above all, responsibility.
Transformation in Christ
Dietrich von Hildebrand -
Learning about other people’s routines has less to do with what we should be doing, and more to do with informing us about what does or doesn’t work for us.
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Anytime you have a negative feeling toward anyone, you’re living in an illusion. There’s something seriously wrong with you. You’re not seeing reality. Something inside of you has to change. But what do we generally do when we have a negative feeling? “He is to blame, she is to blame. She’s got to change.” No! The world’s all right. The one who has to change is you.
― Anthony de Mello, Awareness -
64. A virtuous way of life and gratitude towards God are fruits of man that are pleasing to God. 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. And if, because of all you do, anyone should ever think that you are a devout man, distrust yourself so long as you are in the body, and think that nothing about you is pleasing to God. For you must know that it is not easy for anyone to keep himself sinless until the end.
—St Anthony the Great
On the Character of Men and on the Virtuous Life
One Hundred and Seventy Texts
SO GOOD QUOTES 