• St. Diodochos of Photiki explains another important principal for those who tend to be very zealous:

    “It is in no way contrary to the principles of true knowledge to eat and drink from all that is set before you, giving thanks to God; for “everything is very good” (cf. Gen I.31). But gladly to abstain from eating too pleasurably or too much shows great discrimination and understanding. However, we shall not gladly detach ourselves from the pleasures of this life unless we have fully and consciously tasted the sweetness of God.”

    Notice how St. Diodochos says “gladly” to abstain and detach ourselves. This is key: we only can gladly abstain when we’ve tasted something better, “the sweetness of God.” It’s difficult to exercise self-control in the right spirit if we have not experienced the sweetness of God, or if we have forgotten our “first love” (Rev 2.4). But it’s common for those tempted by zealousness to try to jump to the top of the ladder right away, rather than going up one step at a time, to use the image of St. Dorotheos. They see that something is better, and assume they must accomplish it right away.

    Glory and Honor: Orthodox Christian Resources on Marriage

  • Do not shorten the morning by getting up late, or waste it in unworthy occupations or in talk; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred. Evening is like old age: we are languid, talkative, silly. Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.

    —Arthur Schopenhauer

  • Prayer is learning to live, without expecting to see results; it is learning to love, without hoping to see return; it is learning to be, without demanding to have. We cannot live and love and simply be, unless we are consumed by a total commitment to detachment.

    In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

  • Can you really think that the inner peace you are seeking depends on the locality you finally choose to live in? Surely, inner peace is acquired only by humbly living in accordance with the commandments: Learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matt. 11.29).

    Where you do it is beside the question….

    Letters of Elder Macarius of Optina

  • And if you feel like you don’t do very much, and you feel like there’s no way God loves you. There are some people, they’re shocked, when I hear the struggles that they have in their life, the crosses that they bear, and I tell them, “If you only knew…” like they’re waiting for me to tell them that their problem is going to go away, and I tell them “No, your crown is going to be glorious in heaven.” And you say “I’m just a normal person, Abouna, I don’t do what all these other people do, I don’t do all these great things.” You’re comparing yourself to others.

    —Fr. Paul Girguis

  • Abandon looking at and envying those who are ahead of you in the world.

    Abba Arsenius The Tutor of the Emperor’s Sons
    Bishop Macarius

  • Let all carnal sweetness be as bitterness to you; carnal loss, as gain.

    —St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

  • 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)

  • If the heart is vigilant (Song 5.2), then sleep is nothing for the body; this is like a person who is almost snoring and, when he hears robbers breaking in, does everything possible to escape them. Thus, if we are able to understand, we shall see that we are exactly like this.

    “Other Old Man” John, Letters From The Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press Popular Patristics Series)

  • If you have something to eat and notice your thought wanting to eat alone on account of desire and not of need, in this respect you do not regard him as yourself. Even if you only have enough for whatever you need, if you do not give him some of this, in this respect you do not regard him as yourself.“

    Other Old Man” John, Letters From The Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press Popular Patristics Series)