Do not reckon as. . .
Do not reckon as a truly wise man that one whose mind is subject to fear on account of temporal life.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, “Six Treatises on the Behaviour of Excellence”, Mystical Treatises by Isaac of Nineveh
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My mind withdrew its thoughts from. . .
My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find out what that light was wherein it was bathed… And thus, with the flash of one hurried glance, it attained to the vision of That Which Is.
— St. Augustine of Hippo
In truth, to know oneself. . .
In truth, to know oneself seems to be the hardest of all things. Not only our eye, which observes external objects, does not use the sense of sight upon itself, but even our mind, which contemplates intently another’s sin, is slow in the recognition of its own defects.
-St Basil The Great
There is nothing evil save. . .
There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and shackles the conscience.
– Saint Ambrose of Milan
Let there be a door to. . .
Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that none may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with abuse.
-Saint Ambrose of Milan
But nothing causes such exceeding grief as. . .
But nothing causes such exceeding grief as when anyone, lying under the captivity of sin, calls to mind from where he has fallen, because he turned aside to carnal and earthly things, instead of directing his mind in the beautiful ways of the knowledge of God. So you find Adam concealing himself, when he knew that God was present and wishing to be hidden when called by God with that voice which wounded the soul of him yourself? Why are you concealed? Why do you avoid Him Whom you once longed to see? A guilty conscience is so burdensome that it punishes itself without a judge, and wishes for covering, and yet is bare before God.”
+ St. Ambrose Milan, Concerning Repentance, Book I
