Whoever has a spiritual gift and compassionate toward one who does not have it guards his gift through his compassion. But whoever is proud of his gift loses it through self-opinion.
Marcus EremitaAs water and fire oppose one another when combined, so are self-justification and humility opposed to one another.
Marcus EremitaConquer temptations by the patience and prayer. If you oppose them without these, you will fall all the more severely.
Marcus EremitaFailure to do the good that is within your power is hard to forgive. But mercy and prayer reclaim the negligent.
Marcus EremitaHe 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.
Marcus EremitaIt 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.
Marcus Eremita