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Whoever does not voluntarily. . .

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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

We make ourselves a. . .

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We make ourselves a ladder out of our vices if we trample the vices themselves underfoot

— St. Augustine of Hippo

Blessed the one who meditates on. . .

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“Blessed the one who meditates on death each day and destroys the base passions lurking in the vines of the heart, for he will be consoled in the moment of separation.”

— Ephrem the Syrian