Words to Live By
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
- Attributed variously to either Philo of Alexandria or Plato
Whatever you do, on no account condemn anyone; do not even try to judge whether a person is good or bad, but keep your eyes on that one evil person for whom you must give an account before God - yourself.
- St. Ignatii Brianchaninov
Whoever loves true prayer and yet becomes angry or resentful is his own enemy. He is like a man who wants so see clearly and yet inflicts damage on his own eyes.
- Evagrius the Solitary
We are commanded to have only one enemy, the devil. With him never be reconciled! But with a brother, never be at enmity in thy heart.
- St John Chrysostom
Praying against one’s personal enemies is a transgression of law.
- St John Chrysostom
The bodies of fellow human beings must be treated with greater care than our own. Christian love teaches us to give our brethren not only spiritual gifts, but material gifts as well. Even our last shirt, our last piece of bread must be given to them. Personal almsgiving and the most wide-ranging social work are equally justifiable and necessary. The way to God lies through love of other people and there is no other way. At the Last Judgment I shall not be asked if I was successful in my ascetic exercises or how many prostrations I made in the course of my prayers. I shall be asked, did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners: that is all I shall be asked.
- St Maria Skobtsova
All who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for the Lord himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me...You must honor everyone.
- St. Benedict
I have finally learned to accept people as they are. Whatever they are in the world - a prostitute, a prime minister, it's all the same to me. But sometimes I see a stranger coming up the road and I say, 'Oh Jesus Christ, is it you again?'
- Anonymous Russian monk
- Attributed variously to either Philo of Alexandria or Plato
Whatever you do, on no account condemn anyone; do not even try to judge whether a person is good or bad, but keep your eyes on that one evil person for whom you must give an account before God - yourself.
- St. Ignatii Brianchaninov
Whoever loves true prayer and yet becomes angry or resentful is his own enemy. He is like a man who wants so see clearly and yet inflicts damage on his own eyes.
- Evagrius the Solitary
We are commanded to have only one enemy, the devil. With him never be reconciled! But with a brother, never be at enmity in thy heart.
- St John Chrysostom
Praying against one’s personal enemies is a transgression of law.
- St John Chrysostom
The bodies of fellow human beings must be treated with greater care than our own. Christian love teaches us to give our brethren not only spiritual gifts, but material gifts as well. Even our last shirt, our last piece of bread must be given to them. Personal almsgiving and the most wide-ranging social work are equally justifiable and necessary. The way to God lies through love of other people and there is no other way. At the Last Judgment I shall not be asked if I was successful in my ascetic exercises or how many prostrations I made in the course of my prayers. I shall be asked, did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners: that is all I shall be asked.
- St Maria Skobtsova
All who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for the Lord himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me...You must honor everyone.
- St. Benedict
I have finally learned to accept people as they are. Whatever they are in the world - a prostitute, a prime minister, it's all the same to me. But sometimes I see a stranger coming up the road and I say, 'Oh Jesus Christ, is it you again?'
- Anonymous Russian monk