Narrow Path to Truth

"The path to this Truth is a narrow one, and most men -- because they travel the broad path -- miss it. there is no man, however -- for so the God Who is Truth created him -- who does not seek this Truth."

Father Seraphim (Rose) of Platina
Nihilism: The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age

Joining together severed parts

"It is natural for divine grace, when it stretches out its finger to heal a man, crushed and broken to pieces by his fall, to join together his severed parts and to unite the mind not only with the heart and soul but even with the body, and to give it a single true ardor for God. with the union of the mind and heart the ascetic receives the power to resist all passionate thoughts and passionate feelings. Can this be the result of any technique? No! It is the result of grace; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit Who overshadows the unseen labour of the Christian ascetic; and it is incomprehensible to carnal and natural man."

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
The Arena

Change for the better

"You see very clearly that it is extremely difficult, and without God's grace and your own fervent prayer and abstinence, impossible, for you to change for the better. You feel within yourself the action of a multitude of passions: of pride, malice, envy, greediness, the love of money, despondency, slothfulness, fornication, impatience, and disobedience, and yet you remain in them, whilst the longsuffering Lord bears with you, awaiting your return and amendment; and still bestows upon you all the gifts of His mercy. Be then indulgent, patient, and loving to those who live with you, who also suffer from many passions; conquer every evil by good, and above all pray to God for them, that He may correct them -- that He may turn their hearts to Himself the source of holiness. Do not help the Devil to spread his kingdom. Hallow the name of your Heavenly Father by your actions; help Him to spread His kingdom on earth..."

Saint John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ

Habits take the force of nature

"It is no mean contest to overcome one's bad habits, for custom, strengthened by enduring a long time, takes on the force of nature."

Saint Basil the Great

Intellect is not the soul

"The intellect is not the soul, but a gift of God that saves the soul; and the intellect that conforms to God goes on ahead of the soul and counsels it to...turn all its desire towards eternal, incorruptible and immaterial blessings. And the intellect teaches man...to perceive and contemplate divine and heavenly realities, and everything else as well, through itself. Thus the intellect that enjoys the love of God is the benefactor and saviour of the human soul."

Saint Anthony the Great

Taking turns

"Let weakness and repentance take turns in you until you die."

Saint Nektary of Optina

A mountain of stones; a mountain of leaves

"And really, sometimes you feel just as if there were a mountain of stones weighing down upon you -- so much sin and pain do they bring to you, and you just can't bear it. Then grace comes and sweeps away this mountain of stones as if it were a mountain of high leaves. Then you can receive people again."

Saint Nektary of Optina

Don't waste your effort

"Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort."

Saint Mark the Ascetic
"On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts"
Philokalia