It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.

Be careful to be gentle, lest in removing the rust, you break the whole instrument.

Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.

Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.

The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!

Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.