Pride is the utter poverty of soul disguised as riches, imaginary light where in fact there is darkness.
John ClimacusSimplicity is an enduring habit within a soul that has grown impervious to evil thoughts.
John ClimacusA characteristic of those who are still progressing in blessed mourning is temperance and silence of the lips; and of those who have made progress - freedom from anger and patient endurance of injuries; and of the perfect - humility, thirst for dishonors, voluntary craving for involuntary afflictions, non- condemnation of sinners, compassion even beyond one's strength. The first are acceptable, the second laudable; but blessed are those who hunger for hardship and thirst for dishonor, for they shall be filled with the food whereof there can be no satiety.
John ClimacusThe man who pets a lion may tame it, but the man who coddles the body makes it ravenous.
John Climacus