Even though one is well advanced in virtue, should he stop mortifying himself, he soon would lose his modesty and virtue - just as fertile soul quickly becomes dry and arid and produces nothing but thorns and thistles if it is not cultivated.
John ClimacusWhen a man has found the Lord, he no longer has to use words when he is praying, for the Spirit Himself will intercede for him with groans that cannot be uttered.
John ClimacusThe man who pets a lion may tame it, but the man who coddles the body makes it ravenous.
John ClimacusPride is the utter poverty of soul disguised as riches, imaginary light where in fact there is darkness.
John ClimacusWhen the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.
John Climacus