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For when the time of the passion. . .

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For when the time of the passion of the Lifegiver of all was arrived, He ate the legal passover with His disciples. He took bread and blessed and brake and gave to His disciples, and said, This is My Body in truth, without doubt. And he took the cup and gave thanks and blessed and gave to His apostle’s, and said, This is My true Blood which is for you. And He commanded them to receive and drink of it, all of them, that it might be making atonement for their debts for ever.

-St. Narsai Harp of the Spirit

O glutton, bent on the worship of. . .

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O glutton, bent on the worship of your own belly! It is better for you to cast a live coal into your stomach than the fried foods of rulers and princes.”

+ St. Isaac of Nineveh , The Ascetical Homilies, Homily 17

Passion is the evil in adultery. If a man. . .

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Passion is the evil in adultery. If a man has no opportunity of living with another man’s wife, but if it is obvious for some reason that he would like to do so, and would do so if he could, he is no less guilty than if he was caught in the act.

— St. Augustine of Hippo

Regard as free. . .

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Regard as free not those whose status makes them outwardly free, but those who are free in their character and conduct. For we should not call men truly free when they are wicked and dissolute, since they are slaves to worldly passions. Freedom and happiness of soul consist in genuine purity and detachment from transitory things.

-St. Anthony the Great