– Be ashamed when you sin, but do not be ashamed when you repent: sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine.
– Sin is followed by shame, and repentance by boldness. But the devil has reversed this order: he gives boldness in sin and shame in repentance.
– When the light of the sun rises, the wild beasts flee and hide in their dens; in the same way, when we begin to pray, prayer is a ray that rises upon us, and the mind is lit up by its light,
and then all the wild and senseless passions flee.
– If you cannot cover your brother, take his sin upon yourself and die for him, at least do not judge him.
– God longs to forgive our sins more than we long to repent.
– Show me the proof of your fasting by your works: do not let only your mouth fast, but also your eyes, your ears, your feet, your hands and your whole body.
– Let your hands fast from grasping, greed and evil deeds.
– Let your feet fast from running after faults and transgressions.
– Let your eyes fast from delighting in the sight of anything evil.
– Let your ears and your tongue fast from evil talk and gossip.
– Let your mouth fast from words of hatred, criticism, injustice and slander.
– It is good to deny yourself the meat of birds and animals, but woe to the one who goes on devouring the flesh of his brothers.
