"He passed over his fall, and appointed him first of the Apostles; wherefore He said: ' 'Simon, Simon,' etc. (in Ps. cxxix. 2). God allowed him to fall, because He meant to make him ruler over the whole world, that, remembering his own fall, he might forgive those who should slip in the future. And that what I have said is no guess, listen to Christ Himself saying: 'Simon, Simon, etc.'"

It is a shame for a man to desire honor because of his noble progenitors, and not to deserve it by his own virtue.

Just as those who are deprived of light cannot walk straight, so also those who do not behold the ray of the Holy Scriptures must necessarily sin, since they walk in the deepest darkness.

Endurance is the queen of all virtues.

It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill them.

Thus abide constantly with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that the heart swallows the Lord and the Lord the heart, and the two become one.

When you are weary of praying, and do not receive, consider how often you have heard a poor man calling, and have not listened to him.