As a handful of sand thrown into. . .
“As a handful of sand thrown into the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mind of God.”
— St. Isaac of Nineveh
If you practice an excellent virtue without. . .
“If you practice an excellent virtue without perceiving the taste of its aid, do not marvel; for until a man becomes humble, he will not receive a reward for his labor. Recompense is given, not for labor, but for humility.”
— St. Isaac of Nineveh
There is no sin which cannot be pardoned except. . .
“There is no sin which cannot be pardoned except that one which lacks repentance, and there is no gift which is not augmented save that which remains without acknowledgement. For the portion of the fool is small in his eyes.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, “Six Treatises on the Behaviour of Excellence”, Mystical Treatises by Isaac of Nineveh
At the time of darkness, more than anything. . .
At the time of darkness, more than anything else kneeling is helpful.”
— St. Isaac of Nineveh
Do not dispute the over the truth with. . .
“Do not dispute the over the truth with someone who does not know the truth; but from the person who is eager to know the truth, do not withold words from him”
— St. Isaac of Nineveh. [Keph I.14] (From the Wisdom of St. Isaac the Syrian)
If you give something to one in need, let the. . .
“If you give something to one in need, let the cheerfulness of your face precede your gift, and comfort his sorrow with kind words. When you do this, by your gift the gladness of his mind surpasses even the needs of his body”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian
Be a herald of God’s goodness, for God rules over. . .
“Be a herald of God’s goodness, for God rules over you, unworthy though you are; for although your debt to Him is so great, yet He is not seen exacting payment from you, and from the small works you do, He bestows great rewards upon you.”
— St. Isaac of Nineveh, Homily 60
The power to bear Mysteries, which. . .
The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire. For its sake the Saviour commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation. And this is the Spirit of divine visions. Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: ‘Mysteries are revealed to the humble’ [Ecclus 3:19]. The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homily 77
In proportion to your humility you are. . .
In proportion to your humility you are given patience in your woes; and in proportion to your patience the burden of your afflictions is made lighter and you will find consolation; in proportion to your consolation, your love of God increases; and in proportion to your love, your joy in the Holy Spirit is magnified. Once men have truly become His sons, our tenderly compassionate Father does not take away their temptations from them when it is His pleasure to ‘make for them a way to escape’ (1 Cor. 10:13), but instead He gives His sons patience in their trials. All these good things are given into the hand of their patience for the perfecting of their souls.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homilies (42)
Whoever does not voluntarily. . .
Whoever does not voluntarily withdraw himself from the causes of the passions is involuntarily drawn away by sin. These are the causes of sin: wine, women, riches, and robust health of body. Not that by their nature these things are sins, but that nature readily inclines towards the sinful passions on their account., and for this reason man must guard himself against them with great care.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 5, “On Keeping Oneself Remote From the World and From All Things that Disquiet the Intellect
