No one is as good and merciful as the Lord. But even He does not forgive the unrepentant.

He who willingly accepts chastening by affliction is not dominated by evil thoughts against his will; whereas he who does not accept affliction is taken prisoner by evil thoughts, even though he resists them.

It is harmful to remember previous sins in detail. For if they bring you sorrow, they will estrange you from hope, but if they are remembered without sorrow, they will introduce the previous defilement. If you want to bring to God an uncondemned confession, then don't remember your sins in detail, but manfully endure the suffering that is coming because of them.

Whatever we do or say without prayer always ends up either sinful or harmful and convicts us through the deeds in some mysterious way.

When the mind forgets the purpose of Christian life, then even the clear fulfillment of virtue becomes profitless.

Do not attempt to benefit by rebukes one who boasts of his virtues, for he loves to display himself can not be a lover of truth.

Whoever with fear of God corrects and directs a sinner gains virtue for himself, that of opposition to sin. But whoever insults a sinner with rancor and without good will falls, according to a spiritual law, into the same passion with the sinner.