• As tribulation then came of rest, so also after tribulation, rest must be expected. For neither is it always winter, nor always summer; neither are there always waves, nor always a calm; neither always night, nor always day. Thus tribulation is not perpetual, but there will be also repose; only in our tribulation, let us give thanks to God always. 

    —St. John Chrysostom

  • “Some have melted their bodies with asceticism, but because they lacked discretion, they were found to be far from God.”

    —St. Anthony the Great 

  • Be severe in your judgment concerning your proportions, and let no occasion make you enlarge far beyond your ordinary. For a man is surprised by parts; and while he thinks one glass more will not make him drunk, that one glass hath disabled him from well discerning his present condition and neighbour danger. 

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, On Christian Sobriety -Rules for obtaining temperance., The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • “Sometimes what’s worse than being sick is being afraid of getting sick. Leave it to God.” 

    —Elder Aimilianos of Mt. Athos

  • “Don’t let the temporary moment steal eternity from you.” 

    —St. Anthony

  • We are quick enough to feel and brood over the things we suffer from others, but we think nothing of how much others suffer from us.

    —Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

  • “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”

    —St. Augustine

  • There is no better teacher than death. Have death before your minds: the time when you will leave this unreal world and will go to the other one, which is eternal.

    —St. Cosmas Aitolos

  • This thought of yours is wicked; for it wants to prevent you from correcting your brother. Therefore, do not prevent yourself from speaking; but rather, speak according to God.

    For, indeed, even sick people that are being healed will speak against their doctors; yet, the latter do not care, knowing that the same people will thank them afterward.

    Letters from the Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press Popular Patristics Series)

  • Do not believe your flesh when it threatens to you with weakness during prayer; it lies. As soon as you begin to pray you will find that the flesh will become your obedient slave. Your prayer will vivify it also. Always remember that the flesh is lying.

    —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ