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Desert Fathers — commentary on Scripture

📅 September 1, 2026

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Gregory said, 'God asks three things of anyone who is baptized: to keep the true faith with all his soul and all his might; to control his tongue; to be chaste in his body.'

1 Corinthians 7:20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Somebody asked Antony, 'What shall I do in order to please God?' He replied, 'Do what I tell you, which is this: wherever you go, keep God in mind; whatever you do, follow the example of holy Scripture; wherever you are, stay there and do not move away in a hurry. If you keep to these guide-lines, you will be saved.'

1 Corinthians 8:2-3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Once some brothers came to visit Antony, and Joseph was with them. Antony, wanting to test them, began to speak about holy Scripture. He asked the younger monks first the meaning of text after text, and each of them answered as well as he could. To each he said, 'You have not yet found the right answer.' Then he said to Joseph, 'What do you think is the meaning of this word?' He replied, 'I don't know.' Antony said, 'Indeed Joseph alone has found the true way, for he said he did not know.'

1 Corinthians 9:25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'How should we fast?' Poemen said, 'I suggest that everyone should eat a little less than he wants, every day.' Joseph said to him, 'When you were a young man, didn't you fast for two days on end?' He said to him, 'That's right, I used to fast three days on end, even for a week. But the great hermits have tested all these things, and they found that it is good to eat something every day, but on some days a little less. They have shown us that this is the king's highway, for it is easy and light.'

1 Corinthians 9:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

1 Corinthians 10:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Syncletica] also said, 'We have no security in this world. The Apostle said, "Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). We are sailing on uncharted seas, as the psalmist David said, "Our life is like a sea." Yet some seas have dangerous reefs, some are full of sharks, some seas are calm. It seems as if we are sailing in calm waters, while men of the world are sailing in rough weather. We are sailing in daylight, led by the sun of righteousness, while they are being driven along in the night of ignorance. Yet it often happens that worldly men, sailing in darkness and through storms, are so afraid of danger that they save the ship by calling upon God and by watchfulness, while we, in our calm waters, become careless, leave the proper course of righteousness, and are sunk.'

1 Corinthians 10:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit used to say, 'A lustful thought is brittle like papyrus. When it is thrust at us, if we do not accept it but throw it away it breaks easily. If it allures us and we keep playing with it, it becomes as difficult to break as iron. We need discernment to know that those who consent lose hope of salvation and for those who do not consent, a crown is made ready.'

1 Corinthians 11:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Cassian told this story about John, who was the father of a community because he was great in his way of life. When he was dying, he was cheerful, and his mind was set upon the Lord; his brothers stood around him and asked for a sentence that would sum up the way to salvation, which he could give them as a legacy by which they might rise to the perfection that is in Christ. With a sigh he said 'I have never obeyed my own will, and I never taught anyone to do anything which I did not do myself first.'

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Daniel the disciple of Arsenius used to talk also about a hermit in Scetis, saying that he was a great man but simple in the faith, and in his ignorance he thought and said that the bread which we receive is not in very truth the Body of Christ, but a symbol of His Body. Two of the monks heard what he said but because they knew of his sublime works and labours, they imagined that he had said it in innocence and simple-mindedness; and so they came to him and said unto him, 'Abba, someone told us something that we do not believe; he said that this bread that we receive is not in very truth the Body of Christ, but a mere symbol.' He said to them, 'I said that.' They begged him, saying, 'You mustn't say that, abba; according to what the Catholic Church has handed down to us, even so do we believe, that is to say, this bread is the Body of Christ in very truth, and is not a mere symbol. It is the same as when God took dust from the earth, and made man in His image; just as no one can say that he is not the image of God, so also with the bread of which He said, "This is My Body" is not to be regarded as a merely commemorative thing; we believe that it is indeed the Body of Christ.' The hermit said, 'Unless I can be convinced by the thing itself I will not listen to this.' Then the monks said to him, 'Let us pray to God all week about this mystery, and we believe that He will reveal the truth to us.' The hermit agreed to this with great joy, and each went to his cell. Then the hermit prayed, saying, 'O Lord, you know that it is not out of wickedness that I do not believe, so in order that I may not go astray through ignorance, reveal to me, Lord Jesus Christ, the truth of this mystery.' The other two brothers prayed to God and said, 'Lord Jesus Christ, give this hermit understanding about this mystery, and we believe that he will not be lost.' God heard the prayer of the two monks. When the week was over they came to the church, and the three of them sat down by themselves on one seat, the hermit between the other two. The eyes of their understanding were opened, and when the time of the mysteries arrived, and the bread was laid upon the holy table, there appeared to the three of them as it were a child on the table. Then the priest stretched out his hand to break the bread, and behold the angel of the Lord came down from heaven with a knife in his hand, and he killed the child and pressed out his blood into the cup. When the priest broke off from the bread small pieces, the hermit went forward to receive communion and a piece of living flesh smeared and dripping with blood was given to him. Now when he saw this he was afraid and he cried out loudly, saying, 'Lord, I believe that the bread is Your Body, and that the cup is Your Blood.' At once the flesh that was in his hand became bread, and he took it and gave thanks to God. The brothers said to him, 'God knows the nature of men, and that we are unable to eat living flesh, and so He turneth His Body into bread, and His Blood into wine for those who receive Him in faith.' Then they gave thanks to God for the hermit, because He had not let Satan destroy him, and the three of them went back to their cells joyfully.

1 Corinthians 13:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked by a brother, 'How do I find God? With fasts, or labour, or vigils, or works of mercy?' He replied, 'You will find Him in all those, and also in discretion. I tell you many have been very stern with their bodies, but have gained nothing by it because they did it without discretion. Even if our mouths stink from fasting, and we have learnt all the Scriptures, and memorized the whole Psalter, we may still lack what God wants, humility and love.'

1 Corinthians 15:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother questioned Poemen and said, 'How should a monk live in his cell?' He said, 'To stay in the cell is this: externally, to work with the hands, eat once a day, keep silence and meditate and, internally, to make progress by remembering your sins wherever you may be, and keeping the hours of prayer, and keeping a watch on the secret thoughts of the heart. If it is time to stop working with the hands, begin to pray and finish your work later in tranquillity. The aim of all this is to be with those who are good and to avoid the company of the wicked.'

1 John 1:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said that a man once committed a serious sin. Stricken with remorse, he went to confess to another monk. He did not tell him what he had done, but put it in the form of a question, 'If such a thought arose in someone's mind, would he be saved?' The monk, who had no discretion, answered, 'You are completely lost.' When the brother heard this, he said, 'Well, if I'm going to perish, I'll go and do it in the world.' But on his way he considered the matter and decided to tell his temptations to Silvanus, who possessed great discretion in these matters. The brother went to him and did not tell him what he had done, but again put it in the form of a question, 'If a thought like this came into someone's mind, could he be saved?' Silvanus began to speak to him with texts from Scripture, and said, 'That judgement does not only fall on people tempted to sin.' The brother perceived the force of the saying, and began to hope, and told him what he had done. When Silvanus learnt what he had done, he acted like a skilled physician and put on his soul a poultice made of texts from Scripture, showing him that repentance is available for all who in truth and in charity turn to God. After some years Silvanus met the monk who had driven the brother to despair, and told him what had happened, and said, 'That brother, who despaired because of your words, and was going back to the world, is now a bright star among the brothers.' He told him this so that we may know how perilous it is when anyone confesses thoughts or sins to someone without discretion.

1 Peter 1:6-7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Syncletica said, 'All must endure great travail and conflict when they are first converted to the Lord but later they have unspeakable joy. They are like people trying to light a fire, the smoke gets in their eyes, their eyes begin to water, but they succeed in what they want. It is written, "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29), and so we must kindle divine fire with tears and trouble.'

1 Peter 2:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

1 Peter 3:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'What is humility?' He answered, 'To do good to them that do evil to you.' The brother said, 'Suppose a man cannot attain that standard, what is he to do?' The hermit answered, 'He should run away, and choose silence.'

1 Peter 4:12-13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Syncletica] also said, 'When the devil does not use the goad of poverty to tempt us, he uses wealth for the same purpose. When he cannot win by scorn and mockery, he tries praise and flattery. If he cannot win by giving health, he tries illness. If he cannot win by comfort, he tries to ruin the soul by vexations that lead us to act against our monastic vows. He inflicts severe sicknesses on people whom he wants to tempt and so makes them weak, and thereby shakes the love they feel towards God. But although the body is shattered and running a high temperature and thirsting unbearably, yet you, who endure all this, are a sinner; you should therefore remember the punishments of the next world, the everlasting fire, the torments of judgement. Then you will not fail in the sufferings of this present time, indeed you should rejoice because God has visited you. Keep saying the famous text: "The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but he hath not given me over unto death" (Ps. 118:18). Iron is cleaned of rust by fire. If you are righteous and suffer, you grow to a higher sanctity. Gold is tested by fire. When a messenger from Satan is given to you to be a thorn in your flesh, lift up your heart, for you have received a gift like that of St Paul. If you suffer from fever and cold, remember the text of Scripture, "We went through fire and water," and "thou broughtest us out into a place of rest" (Ps. 66:12). If you have overcome suffering, you may expect rest, provided you are following what is good. Cry aloud the prophet's words, "I am poor and destitute and in misery" (Ps. 66:29). Threefold suffering like this shall make you perfect. He said also, "Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble" (Ps. 4:1). So let this kind of self-discipline test our souls, for our enemy is always in sight.'

1 Peter 5:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'Would you like me to keep two shillings for myself, in case I fall ill?' The hermit, seeing that in his heart he wanted to keep them, said, 'Yes.' The brother went into his cell, but he was worried, asking himself, 'Did he tell me the truth or not?' He got up and went back to the hermit, bowed down and asked him, 'For the Lord's sake tell me the truth, for I am worrying about those two shillings.' The hermit said to him, 'I told you to keep them because I saw you intended to do so anyway. But it is not good to have more than the body needs. If you keep two shillings, you will put your hope in them. If by chance they are lost, then God will no longer be interested in your needs. Let us cast all our care upon the Lord, for He cares for us.'

1 Peter 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Cassian told a story of a hermit who was living in the desert. He asked God to grant that he should never fall asleep when the conversation was edifying but that if anyone spoke with back-biting or hate, he should nod off at once so that he would not hear poisonous words. He said that the devil strives hard to make men speak idle words, and fights against letting anyone hear any spiritual teaching. He gave the following example of this: Once when I was talking to some brothers for the good of their souls they became so drowsy that they could not even keep their eyelids open. I wanted to show them that this was the devil's work, so I started gossiping: and at once they sat up and began to enjoy what I was saying. But I said sadly, 'We were talking of heaven just now, and your eyes were closing in slumber: but the moment the talk became frivolous, you all began to listen eagerly. I beg you then, dear brothers, since you know that this is the work of the devil, be watchful and beware of falling asleep when you are hearing about spiritual things.'

1 Samuel 2:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

There was once a brother who was very eager to seek goodness. Being very disturbed by the demon of lust, he came to a hermit and told him about his thoughts. The hermit was inexperienced and when he heard all this, he was shocked, and said he was a wicked brother, unworthy of his monk's habit because he had thoughts like that. When the brother heard this, he despaired, left his cell and started on his way back to the world. But by God's providence, Apollo met him. Seeing he was so upset and sad, he said to him, 'Son, why are you so unhappy?' The brother was very embarrassed, and at first said nothing. But when Apollo pressed him to say what was happening to him, he admitted everything and said, 'It is because lustful thoughts trouble me. I confessed them to that hermit, and he says I now have no hope of salvation. So I have despaired, and am on my way back to the world.' When Apollo heard this, he went on asking questions like a wise doctor, and gave him this counsel, 'Do not be cast down, son, nor despair of yourself. Even at my age and with my experience of the spiritual life, I am still troubled by thoughts like yours. Do not fail now; this trouble cannot be cured by our efforts, but only by God's mercy. Do as I say and go back to your cell.' The brother did so. Then Apollo went to the cell of the hermit who had made the brother despair. He stood outside the cell, and prayed to the Lord with tears, saying, 'Lord, you permit men to be tempted for their good; transfer the war that brother is suffering to this hermit: let him learn by experience in his old age what many years have not taught him, and so let him find out how to sympathize with people undergoing this kind of temptation.' As soon as he ended his prayer he saw a black man standing by the cell firing arrows at the hermit. As though he had been wounded, the hermit began to totter and lurch like a drunken man. When he could bear it no longer, he came out of his cell, and set out on the same road by which the young man started to return to the world. Apollo understood what had happened, and went to meet him. He came up to him and said, 'Where are you going? Why are you so upset?' When the hermit saw that the holy Apollo understood what had happened, he was ashamed and said nothing. Apollo said to him, 'Go back to your cell and see in others your own weakness and keep your own heart in order. For either you were ignorant of the devil in spite of your age, or you were contemptuous, and did not deserve to gain strength by struggling with the devil as all other men must. But struggle is not the right word, when you could not stand up to his attack for one day. This has happened to you because of the young monk. He came to you because he was being attacked by the common enemy of us all. You ought to have given him words of consolation to help him against the devil's attack but instead you drove him to despair. You did not remember the wise man's saying, which orders us to deliver the men who are drawn towards death, and not to cease to redeem men ready to be killed. You did not remember our Saviour's parable, "You should not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax" (Matt. 12:20). No one can endure the enemy's clever attacks, nor quench, nor control the leaping fire natural to the body, unless God's grace preserves us in our weakness. In all our prayers we should ask for his mercy to save us, so that he may turn aside this scourge which is aimed even at you. For he makes a man to grieve, and then lifts him up to salvation; he strikes, and his hand heals; he humbles and exalts; he gives death and then life; he leads to hell and brings back from hell (1 Sam. 2:6). So Apollo prayed again, and at once the hermit was set free from his inner war. Apollo urged him to ask God to give him a wise heart, in order to know how best to speak.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Gregory said, 'God asks three things of anyone who is baptized: to keep the true faith with all his soul and all his might; to control his tongue; to be chaste in his body.'

1 Thessalonians 5:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked Poemen about the words, 'Do not render evil for evil' (1 Thess. 5:15). He said to him, 'The passions work in four stages: first in the heart, then in the face, third in words, fourth in deeds – and it is in deeds that it is essential not to render evil for evil. If you purify your heart, passion will not show in your expression, but if it does, take care not to speak about it; if you do speak, cut the conversation short in case you render evil for evil.'

1 Thessalonians 5:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Bishop Epiphanius of Cyprus, of holy memory, was told this by the abbot of his monastery in Palestine. 'By your prayers we have kept our rule; we carefully observe the offices of terce, sext, none and vespers.' But Epiphanius rebuked him and said, 'Then you are failing to pray at other times. The true monk ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). He should always be singing psalms in his heart.'

1 Timothy 4:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Syncletica] also said, 'It is dangerous for a man to try teaching before he is trained in the good life. A man whose house is about to fall down may invite travellers inside to refresh them, but instead they will be hurt in the collapse of the house. It is the same with teachers who have not carefully trained themselves in the good life; they destroy their hearers as well as themselves. Their mouth invites to salvation, their way of life leads to ruin.'

1 Timothy 6:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

When Macarius was living in Egypt, one day he came across a man who had brought a donkey to his cell and was stealing his possessions. As though he was a passer-by who did not live there, he went up to the thief and helped him to load the beast, and sent him peaceably on his way, saying to himself, 'We brought nothing into this world (1 Tim. 6:7) but the Lord gave; as He willed, so it is done: blessed be the Lord in all things.'

1 Timothy 6:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Macarius said to Zacharias, 'Tell me, what makes a monk?' He said, 'Isn't it wrong for you to be asking me?' Macarius said to him, 'I am sure I should ask you, Zacharias my son. There is something that urges me to ask you.' Zacharias said to him, 'As far as I can tell, abba, I think anyone who controls himself and makes himself content with just what he needs and no more, is indeed a monk.'

2 Corinthians 4:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'When the donkey's eyes are covered it walks round the mill-wheel. If you uncover its eyes, it will not go on walking in the circle. So if the devil succeeds in covering a man's eyes, he leads him into every kind of sin. But if the man's eyes are uncovered, he can more easily escape.'

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Syncletica also said, 'If you are troubled by illness, do not be miserable, even if you are so ill that you cannot stand to pray or use your voice to say psalms. We need these tribulations to destroy the desires of our body; they serve the same purpose as fasting and austerity. If your senses are dulled by illness, you do not need to fast. In the same way that a powerful medicine cures an illness, so illness itself is a medicine to cure passion. A great deal is gained spiritually by bearing illness quietly and giving thanks to God. If we go blind, let us not be upset. We have lost one means to excellence, yet we can contemplate the glory of God with the inward eyes of the soul. If we go deaf let us remember that we shall no longer hear a lot of silly talk. If suffering has weakened the strength of your hands, you still have inner strength against the enemy's attacks. If the whole body is afflicted by disease, your spiritual health is still increasing.'

2 Corinthians 5:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked Ammon, 'Speak a word to me.' He said to him, 'Go and meditate like the criminals in prison. They keep asking, where is the judge, when will he come? and because they are waiting for him they dread their punishment. The monk should always be waiting for his trial, chiding his soul, saying: "Alas, how shall I stand before the judgement seat of Christ? How shall I give an account of my actions?" If you always meditate like this, you will be saved.'

2 Corinthians 7:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Syncletica] also said, 'There is a useful sorrow, and a destructive sorrow. Sorrow is useful when we weep for our sins, and for our neighbour's ignorance, and so that we may not relax our purpose to attain to true goodness, these are the real kinds of sorrow. Our enemy adds something to this. For he sends sorrow without reason, which is something called lethargy. We ought always to drive out a sadness like that with prayers and psalms.'

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother said to Poemen, 'If I give my brother something, for instance a piece of bread, the demons made the gift worthless by making me think that it was done to please men.' The hermit said to him, 'Even if it is done to please men, we still ought to give our brothers what they need.' He told him this parable: 'In a town there were two farmers. One of them sowed seed, and gathered a poor harvest; the other was idle and did not sow, and had no harvest to gather. If famine came, which of them would survive?' The brother answered, 'The one who sowed seed, even if the harvest was poor.' He said, 'It is the same for us. We sow a few seeds, and they are poor, but in the time of famine we shall not die.'

2 Corinthians 9:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

One of the fathers said, 'If anyone asks you for something, and you give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go with the gift, as it is written, "If a man forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two" (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.'

2 Corinthians 10:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother came to Poemen and said to him, 'Many thoughts come into my mind and put me in danger.' He sent him out into the open air, and said, 'Open your lungs and do not breathe.' He replied, 'I can't do that.' Then he said to him: 'Just as you can't stop air coming into your lungs, so you can't stop thoughts coming into your mind. Your part is to resist them.'

2 Corinthians 12:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Timothy 1:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

They said that Dioscorus of Namisias made his bread out of barley, and his soup out of lentils. Every year he made one particular resolution: either not to meet anyone for a year, or not to speak, or not to taste cooked food, or not to eat any fruit, or not to eat vegetables. This was his system in everything. He made himself master of one thing, and then started on another, and so on each year... They said of Helladius that he lived twenty years in his cell, and did not once raise his eyes to look at the roof.

2 Timothy 2:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'Ask God to give you inner grief of heart and humility. Always look at your own sins, and do not judge another's. Be the servant of all. Do not make friends with a woman, or a boy or a heretic. Do not be self-confident. Control your tongue and appetite, and do not drink wine. If anyone speaks to you on a controversial matter, do not argue with him. If he speaks well, say, "Yes." If he speaks ill, say, "I don't know anything about that." Don't argue with what he has said, and then your mind will be at peace.'

2 Timothy 2:24-25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Poemen said, 'If a man sins and denies it, saying, "I have not sinned," do not correct him, or you will destroy any intention he might have of changing. If you say, "Do not be cast down, my brother, but be careful about that in future," you will move his heart to repent.'

2 Timothy 3:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

The hermits used to say, 'God demands this of Christians: to obey the inspired Scriptures, which contain the pattern of what they must say and do, and agree with the teaching of the orthodox bishops and teachers.'

Acts 5:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If anyone, in humility and the fear of God, orders a monk to do something, the very word, spoken for God's sake, makes the monk ready, and obedient to the command. But if he gives the command because he wants to give orders, if he sets himself up as an authority and seeks power over the monk, and does not give a command in the fear of God, God sees the secrets of the heart and does not let the monk obey him. Everyone knows whether his orders are from God or from self-will and desire for power. An order from God is given with humility and gentleness; an order given out of a desire for power is done with anger and anxiety, for it is of the devil.'

Colossians 3:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'A monk ought not to listen to disparagement; he ought not to be disparaging, and he ought not to be scornful.'

Colossians 4:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said to a brother, 'Do not measure yourself against your brother, saying that you are more serious or more chaste or more understanding than he is. But be obedient to the grace of God, in the spirit of poverty, and in love unfeigned. The efforts of a man swollen with vanity are futile. It is written, "Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12); "let your speech be seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6) and so you will be dependent upon Christ.'

Deuteronomy 6:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Deuteronomy 32:35 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother who was hurt by another brother went to the Theban Sisois and said, 'I want to get back at a brother who has hurt me.' The hermit begged him, 'Don't do that, my son, leave vengeance in the hands of God.' But he said, 'I can't rest till I get my own back.' The hermit said, 'My brother, let us pray.' He stood and said, 'O God, we have no further need of you, for we can take vengeance by ourselves.' The brother heard it and fell at the hermit's feet, saying, 'I won't quarrel with my brother any longer; I beg you to forgive me.'

Ecclesiastes 3:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'If I live with other monks, and see something wrong, do you want me to say something about it?' The hermit replied, 'If some are older than you, or your contemporaries, you will have more peace of mind in keeping silent for you will find peace in putting yourself below the others.' The brother said to him, 'How can I do that, abba? For my thoughts would trouble me.' The hermit said to him, 'If you are worrying about the matter, offer a piece of advice, once, with humility. If they do not listen to you, leave what you have done in God's sight, and He will help you. In this way the worshipper of God lays himself before God, and does not follow his self-will. But take care that your anxiety be of God. In any case, as far as I can see, it is good to be silent, for silence is humility.'

Ecclesiastes 7:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

She also said, 'The devil sometimes sends a severe fast which is too prolonged; the devil's disciples do this as well as holy men. How do we distinguish the fasting of our God and King from the fasting of that tyrant the devil? Clearly by its moderation. Throughout your life, then, you ought to keep an unvarying rule of fasting. Do you fast four or five days on end and then lose your spiritual strength by eating a feast? That really pleases the devil! Everything which is extreme is destructive. So do not suddenly throw away your armour, or you may be found unarmed in the battle and easily captured. Our body is the armour, our soul is the warrior. Take care of both, and you will be ready for whatever comes.'

Ecclesiastes 12:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'While you sit in your cell, recall your attention, and remember the day of your death and you will see that your body is decaying. Think about the loss, feel the pain. Shrink from the vanity of the world outside. Be retiring, and be careful to keep your vow of quiet, and you will not weaken. Remember the souls in hell. Meditate on their condition, the bitter silence and the moaning, the fear and the strife, the waiting and the pain without relief, the tears that cannot cease to flow. Remember too the day of resurrection, imagine God's terrible and awful judgement. Bring into your sight the confusion of sinners before God and His Christ, before angels and archangels and powers, and all the human race, punishment, everlasting fire, the worm that never dies, the darkness of Tartarus – and above them all the sound of the gnashing of teeth, dread and torments. Bring before your eyes the good laid up for the righteous, their confidence before God the Father and Christ His Son, before angels and archangels and the powers, and all the people in the kingdom of heaven and its gifts, joy and peace. Remember all this. Weep and lament for the judgement of sinners, keep alert to the grief they suffer; be afraid that you are hurrying towards the same condemnation. Rejoice and exult at the good laid up for the righteous. Aim at enjoying the one, and being far from the other. Do not forget this, whether you are in your cell or outside it. Keep these memories in your mind and so cast out of it the sordid thoughts that harm you.'

Ephesians 4:26-27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

One of the brothers asked Isidore, the priest of Scetis, 'Why are the demons so afraid of you?' He said, 'Ever since I became a monk, I have been trying not to let anger rise as far as my mouth.' He said also that though he felt impulses towards the sins of concupiscence or of anger, he had not consented to them for forty years.

Ephesians 4:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said to a brother, 'The devil is like a hostile neighbour and you are like a house. The enemy continually throws all the dirt that he can find into your house. It is your business to throw out whatever he throws in. If you neglect to do this, your house will be so full of mud that you will not be able to get inside. From the moment he begins to throw it in, put it out again, bit by bit: and so with Christ's help your house will remain clean.'

Ephesians 4:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'A monk ought not to listen to disparagement; he ought not to be disparaging, and he ought not to be scornful.'

Ephesians 4:31-32 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John told this story. Anub and Poemen and some others who were born of the same mother were monks in Scetis. Some savage Mazicae came and sacked Scetis. The brothers fled and went to a place called Terenuthis; they stayed a few days there in an old temple while they discussed where to live. Anub said to Poemen, 'Of your kindness, let me live apart from you and our brothers, so that we do not see each other during this week.' Poemen said, 'Let us do as you wish,' so that is what they did. There was a stone statue in the temple. Every day at dawn Anub got up and pelted the face of the statue with stones and every day at evening he said to it, 'Forgive me.' Every day for a week he did this: and on Saturday they met again. Poemen said to Anub, 'I saw you throwing stones at the face of the statue every day this week, and later doing penance to the statue. A true Christian would not have done that.' Anub answered, 'I did it for your sake. When you saw me throwing stones at the statue's face, did it speak? Was it angry?' Poemen said, 'No.' He said, 'When I did penance before the statue, was it moved in its heart? Did it say, "I won't forgive you?" ' Poemen answered, 'No.' Anub said, 'Here we are, seven brothers. If we want to stay together, we must become like this statue, which is untroubled by the injuries done it. If you will not become like this statue, see, there are four doors to this temple, and each of us may go in the direction he chooses.' At these words they fell upon the ground before Anub, and said to him, 'Let it be as you say, abba. We will do what you tell us.' Poemen described what happened afterwards. 'We remained together all our lives, doing our work and everything else as Anub directed us. He appointed one of us as a steward, and we ate whatever he put before us; no one could have said: "Bring something else to eat," or "I will not eat that." So we passed our lives in quiet and peace.'

Ephesians 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 5:15-16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If you lose gold or silver, you can find something as good as you lost. But the man who loses time can never make up what he has lost.'

Ephesians 5:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Antony said, 'I think that the body has a natural movement within itself, which obeys the orders of the mind, a kind of inclination of which the body's actions are only symptoms. There is a second movement in the body, caused by eating and drinking, by which the blood is heated and excited. That is why St Paul said, 'Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess' (Eph. 5:18), and again the Lord commanded his disciples in the Gospel, 'See that your hearts be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness' (Luke 21:34). There is a third movement which comes from the deceit and envy of demons against those who are trying to live a good life. It is a help to know that there are three bodily inclinations – from nature, from too much food, and from the demons.'

Ephesians 6:11 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 6:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ezekiel 14:14 — SAYINGS OF THE DESERT FATHERS 193

The work of the monastic life is poverty and trouble and separation.… Noah must be taken as representing the personification of self-denial, and Job as representing labors and Daniel as representing separation; if a person possess these three rules of conduct the Lord dwells in him.

Ezekiel 36:26 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John who had been exiled by the Emperor Marcion, said, 'One day we went into Syria to see Poemen for we wanted to ask him about hardness of heart. But he did not know Greek and we did not have an interpreter. When he saw we were embarrassed, he began to speak in Greek saying, 'The nature of water is soft, the nature of stone is hard; but if a bottle is hung above a stone letting water drip down, it wears away the stone. It is like that with the word of God; it is soft and our heart is hard, but if a man hears the word of God often, it will break open his heart to the fear of God.'

Galatians 5:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Fasting is the monk's control over sin. The man who stops fasting is like a stallion who lusts the moment he sees a mare.'

Galatians 6:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Macarius said also, 'If you are stirred to anger when you want to reprove someone, you are gratifying your own passions. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.'

Galatians 6:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:9-10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'We do not make progress because we do not realize how much we can do. We lose interest in the work we have begun, and we want to be good without even trying.'

Genesis 3:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Hyperichius] also said, 'The serpent whispered to Eve and cast her out of paradise. The man who whispers against his neighbour is like the serpent. He condemns the soul of whoever listens to him, and he does not save his own.'

Genesis 3:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

One of the hermits said, 'Unless you first hate, you cannot love. Unless you hate sin, you cannot live sinlessly. As it is written, "Depart from evil and do good" (Ps. 37:27). But perseverance is needed for this. Adam, even though he was in Paradise, disobeyed God's command while Job, who was living on a dung hill, kept it. It seems that God requires from us a good intention, that is, that we should fear him always.'

Genesis 14:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Daniel told a story of another hermit who used to live in the lower parts of Egypt, and who said in his simplicity that Melchizedek was the Son of God. Now when the blessed man Theophilus, the archbishop of Alexandria, heard of it, he sent a message asking the monks to bring the hermit to him. When he saw him, he realized that he was a man of vision and that every thing that he had asked for God had given him, and that he had only said this out of simplicity. The archbishop dealt with him wisely in the following manner, saying, 'Abba, pray to God for me, because I have begun to think that Melchizedek was the Son of God,' and he added, 'It cannot be true, for the high priest of God was a man. But because I had doubts in my mind about this, I sent for you to pray to God for me that He may reveal the truth of the matter to you.' Then, because the hermit had confidence in the power of prayer, he said to him firmly, 'Wait three days, and I will ask God about this and then I shall be able to tell you who Melchizedek was.' So the hermit went away, and returned after three days, and said to the blessed Archbishop Theophilus, 'Melchizedek was a man.' The Archbishop said unto him, 'How do you know that, abba?' The hermit said, 'God showed me all the Patriarchs, one by one, and they passed before me one after the other, from Adam to Melchizedek, and an angel said to me, "This is Melchizedek." That is indeed how the truth of this matter appeared tome.' The hermit went away, and he himself proclaimed that Melchizedek was a man, and the blessed Theophilus rejoiced greatly.

Genesis 22:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'The beginning and the end is the fear of the Lord. For it is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10) and, when Abraham built an altar the Lord said to him, "Now I know that you fear God" (Gen. 22:12).'

Hebrews 1:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked how it was that some people said they had seen angels. He answered, 'Blessed is he who always sees his own sins.'

Hebrews 4:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 7:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 12:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 13:2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Cassian said, 'We came from Palestine to Egypt, and visited one of the hermits. After he had welcomed us, we asked him, "When you receive guests, why don't you fast? In Palestine they do." He answered, "Fasting is always possible but I cannot keep you here for ever. Fasting is useful and necessary, but we can choose to fast or not fast. God's law demands from us perfect love. I receive Christ when I receive you, so I must do all I can to show you love. When I have said goodbye to you, I can take up my rule of fasting again. 'The sons of the bridegroom cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them; when he is taken from them, then they can fast' (Matt. 9:15)." '

Hebrews 13:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Isaiah 6:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mathois said, 'The nearer a man comes to God, the more he sees himself to be a sinner. Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord and knew himself to be wretched and unclean (Is. 6:5).'

James 1:2-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was living in a cave in the Thebaid with one well-tested disciple. It was usual for him to teach the disciple during the evening and show him how the soul should progress, and after the address he used to pray and send him away to sleep. Some devout laymen who knew of the hermit's ascetic life happened to visit him. He gave them counsel and they went away. Then he sat down after the evening prayers as usual to instruct the brother. But while he was talking, sleep overcame him. The brother waited for the hermit to wake and end with the usual prayer. But he went on sleeping and the brother went on sitting for a long time and in the end the disciple felt he must go and sleep though he was uneasy about it. So he pulled himself together, and resisted the temptation, and went back to sit by the hermit. A second time he was forced away by the longing for sleep, but he sat down again. This happened seven times, and still he went on resisting it. In the middle of the night the hermit woke up, and found him sitting nearby and said, 'Haven't you gone away yet?' He said, 'No, you did not send me away, abba.' The hermit said, 'Why did you not wake me up?' He answered, 'I did not dare to nudge you for fear of upsetting you.' They both got up and began to say the morning prayers. After that the hermit sent his disciple away. When the hermit was sitting alone, he was shown a vision of a glorious place, with a throne in it, and on the throne seven crowns. He asked the angel who showed him the vision, 'Whose crowns are those?' and he replied, 'They are the crowns of your disciple. God had given him this place and throne because of his goodness and tonight he has been granted these seven crowns.' The hermit was amazed and called his disciple to him with wonder and said, 'Tell me what you did all night.' He answered, 'Alas, abba, I did nothing.' The hermit could see that he was being humble and concealing something, and said, 'Look here, I can't rest until you tell me what you did and thought last night.' But the brother was not aware that he had done anything and could not say a word. Then at last he said to the hermit, 'Indeed, abba, I did nothing, except that seven times I was driven by wandering thoughts to go away and sleep; but you had not sent me away as you usually do, so I did not go.' Then the hermit at once understood that every time he resisted the temptation, God bestowed a crown on him. To the disciple he said nothing, thinking it best for his soul, but he told other directors of souls, to teach us how God can bestow crowns upon us even for resisting little temptations. It is good that a man discipline his whole self for God's sake. As it is written, 'The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by storm' (Matt. 11:12).

James 1:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked Pambo, 'Why does the enemy prevent me doing good to my neighbour?' He said, 'Do not talk like that, or you will make God a liar. Say, "It is I myself do not want to be kind to others." For God came down to us and said, "I have given you the power of treading upon scorpions and snakes" (Luke 10:19), and so you are beyond the power of the enemy. Why then do you not tread down these evil spirits?'

James 1:14-15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Gerontius of Petra said, 'Many people who are tempted by pleasures of the flesh do not sin with the body but lust with the mind; they keep their bodily virginity but lust in their heart. It is better then, beloved, to do what is written, "Let everyone keep a close guard upon his heart" (Prov. 4:23).'

James 1:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Macarius said also, 'If you are stirred to anger when you want to reprove someone, you are gratifying your own passions. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.'

James 1:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Some brothers from Scetis wanted to visit Antony, and set out in a ship to go there. On board they met an old man who also wanted to go to Antony, but he did not belong to their party. During the voyage they talked about the sayings of the fathers, and the Scriptures, and then the manual work that they did, but the old man said nothing at all. When they came to the landing-place, they realized that the old man also was going to see Antony. When they arrived, Antony said to them, 'You found good company on your journey in this old man.' He said to the old man, 'You found good companions in these brothers.' The old man said, 'Yes, they are good, but their house has no door. Anyone who wants to goes into the stable and steals the donkey.' He said this because they had said the first thing that came into their heads.

James 1:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Another brother spoke with the same Theodore, and he began to talk about matters of which he had no experience. Theodore said to him, 'You've not yet found a ship to sail in, nor put your luggage aboard, nor put out to sea, and you're already acting as if you were in the city which you mean to reach. If you make some attempt to do the things you are discussing, then you can talk about them with understanding.'

James 2:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If a man has words but no works, he is like a tree with leaves but no fruit. Just as a tree laden with fruit is also leafy, the man of good works will also have good words.'

James 3:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 3:5-6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

James 3:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

James 4:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother felt hungry at dawn, and struggled not to eat till nine o'clock. When nine o'clock came, he made himself wait till noon. At noon he dipped his bread and sat down to eat, but then got up again, saying, 'I will wait till three.' At three o'clock he prayed, and saw the devil's work going out of him like smoke; and his hunger ceased.

James 4:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

One of the hermits said, 'No one can see his face reflected in muddy water; so the soul cannot pray to God with contemplation unless it is first cleansed of harmful thoughts.'

James 5:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Cassian said, 'Moses the Hermit told us, "It is good not to hide our thoughts; we ought to disclose them to discreet and devout elders; but not to those who are old merely in years, for many have found final despair instead of comfort by confessing to those whom they saw to be old, but who were in fact inexperienced." '

John 6:55 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John 13:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'Abba, look here, I ask my elders questions, and they talk to me for the good of my soul, and I remember nothing they say. Is it any use asking questions when I gain nothing by it? I am deeply sinful.' There were two empty vessels nearby. The hermit said, 'Take one of those vessels and put oil in it, rinse it, pour out the oil, and bring the vessel back.' He did so. He said, 'Do it again.' He did so. After he had done it several times, the hermit said, 'Now, take both vessels and see which is the cleaner.' He answered, 'The one into which I put oil.' The hermit said, 'It's the same for the one who asks questions. Although you remember nothing that you have heard, your soul will be cleaner than that of someone who never even asks questions.'

John 15:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Poemen] also said, 'There is no greater love than that you should lay down your life for your neighbour. When you hear a complaint against you and you struggle with yourself, and do not begin to complain in return, when you bear an injury with patience and do not look for revenge, that is when you lay down your life for your neighbour.'

John 21:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Antony was confused as he meditated upon the depths of God's judgements, and he asked God, 'Lord, how is it that some die young and others grow old and sick? Why are there some poor and some rich? Why are there those who are bad and rich and oppress the good poor?' He heard a voice saying to him, 'Antony, worry about yourself; these other matters are up to God, and it will not do you any good to know them.'

Job 1:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Job 1:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Job 40:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

At a meeting of the hermits in Cellia, Evagrius made a speech. Then the priest there said, 'Evagrius, we know that if you were in your own country, perhaps you would already be a bishop, ruling over many. Here you are only a pilgrim.' Evagrius was pierced to the heart at these words, but he bent his head calmly and without haste and looked at the ground, then wrote in the dust with his finger, and said, 'Truly, brothers, that is right. But, as it is written, "I have spoken once and I will no more answer" (Job 40:5).'

Joshua 5:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'Is it good to be always repenting?' He answered, 'We have seen Joshua the son of Nun; it was when he was lying prostrate on his face that God appeared to him' (cf. Josh. 5:14).

Joshua 14:11 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked John, 'What shall I do? A brother keeps coming and taking me away to help with the work which he is doing: but I am poor and ill, and too weak to do it. How can I obey God's commandment?' He answered him, 'Caleb the son of Jephunneh said to Joshua the son of Nun, "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me with you to that country and now I am eighty-five. Then I was strong: and I am still just as capable of beginning and ending a battle" (cf. Josh. 14:6, 10–11). So go with him and see if you finish the work as well as you begin it. If you can't, sit in your cell and lament your sins. If they find you weeping when they come, they will not force you to go with them.'

Lamentations 3:39-40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'In every trial do not blame other people but blame yourself, saying, "This has happened to me because of my sins." '

Luke 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mathois said, 'The nearer a man comes to God, the more he sees himself to be a sinner. Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord and knew himself to be wretched and unclean (Is. 6:5).'

Luke 6:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He said, 'It is if you forgive a brother who has wronged you before he is sorry.'

Luke 6:31 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Some of the hermits used to say, 'Whatever you hate for yourself, do not do it to someone else. If you hate being spoken evil of, do not speak evil of another. If you hate being slandered, do not slander another. If you hate him who tries to make you despised, or wrongs you, or takes away what is yours, or anything like that, do not do such things to others. To keep this is enough for salvation.'

Luke 6:39-40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 9:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'To go against self is the beginning of salvation.'

Luke 10:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Daniel said that in Babylon there was a nobleman's daughter, who was possessed by a devil. Her father asked a monk for help. The monk said to him, 'No one can cure your daughter except some hermits I know: and if you go to them, they will refuse to do it from motives of humility. Let us do it this way: when they come to the city bringing their produce for sale, tell them that you want to buy what they have. When they come into the house to receive the money, we will ask them to pray, and I believe that your daughter will be cured.' So they went into the street, and found a disciple of a hermit who was sitting there to sell his baskets. They took him back with them to the house, as if to give him the money for his wares. When the monk came into the house, the girl who was troubled with the demon went up to him and slapped him. He followed the Lord's commandment, and turned to her the other cheek. The demon was forced out, and began to cry: 'Violence! The commandment of Jesus Christ is driving me out;' the girl was healed at that moment. When they came back to the hermit, they told him what had happened, and he glorified God, saying, 'The pride of devils must fall before humble obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ.'

Luke 10:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

This same Macarius once went down from Scetis to a place named Terenuthis, and he climbed into an old pagan burial place to sleep. He put one of the bodies under his head as a pillow. The demons hated him when they saw his assurance and tried to frighten him by calling out, 'Lady, come with us to bathe.' Another demon answered from underneath Macarius, as though he were the dead woman, 'I have a pilgrim on top of me, and can't move.' Macarius was not frightened, but confidently thumped the body, saying, 'Get up and go if you can.' When the demons heard it, they cried out and said, 'You have defeated us,' and they fled in confusion.

Luke 10:42 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother went to visit Silvanus on Mount Sinai. When he saw the brothers hard at work, he said to the old man, ' "Labour not for the meat which perisheth" (John 6:27) and "Mary hath chosen the best part" (Luke 10:42).' Silvanus said to his disciple Zacharias, 'Put this brother in a cell where there is nothing.' When three o'clock came, the visitor kept looking at the door, to see when they would send someone to invite him to eat but no one did so. So he got up and went to Silvanus and said, 'Abba, don't the brethren eat today?' He said, 'Yes, they have eaten already.' The brother said, 'Why didn't you call me?' He replied, 'You are so spiritual you do not need food. We are earthly, and since we want to eat, we work with our hands. But you have chosen the good part, reading all day, and not wanting to take earthly food.' When the brother heard this he prostrated himself in penitence and said, 'Forgive me, abba.' Silvanus said, 'I think Mary always needs Martha, and by Martha's help Mary is praised.'

Luke 14:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'My sister is poor. If I give her alms, am I giving alms to the poor?' He said, 'No.' The brother said, 'Why is that, abba?' He replied, 'Because your relationship draws you to prefer her.'

Luke 18:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Some brothers asked Macarius, 'How should we pray?' He said, 'There is no need to talk much in prayer. Reach out your hands often, and say, "Lord have mercy on me, as you will and as you know." But if conflict troubles you, say, "Lord, help me." He knows what is best for us, and has mercy.'

Luke 21:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'One man eats a lot and is still hungry. Another eats a little and has had enough. The man who eats a lot and is still hungry has more merit than the man who eats the little that satisfies him.'

Luke 21:34 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 22:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John of the Thebaid said, 'Above all a monk should be humble. For this is the Saviour's first commandment, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3).'

Matthew 5:11-12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

The monks praised a brother to Antony. Antony went to him and tested him to see if he could endure being insulted. When he saw that he could not bear it, he said to him, 'You are like a house with a highly decorated outside, but burglars have stolen all the furniture by the back door.'

Matthew 5:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

Matthew 5:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked Poemen, 'What is the meaning of the text, "Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause" (Matt. 5:22)?' He answered, 'If you are angry with your brother for any kind of trouble that he gives you, that is anger without a cause, and it is better to pluck out your right eye and cast it from you. But if anyone wants to separate you from God, then you must be angry with him.'

Matthew 5:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother learnt that another brother was angry with him, and went to make it up but the other did not open the door of his cell. So he went to a hermit, and told him about it. The hermit said, 'See that you have no reason, which looks like a just reason, in your heart for blaming your brother: as though you would accuse him and justify yourself, for if so God will not touch his heart to open the door to you. I tell you this: even if he has sinned against you, think in your heart that you have sinned against him; justify your brother rather than yourself and then God will put it into his heart to make peace with you.'

Matthew 5:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:28-29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:39 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:41 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:43-44 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Matthew 5:44 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said to a brother, 'When a proud or vain thought enters your mind, examine your conscience to see if you are keeping God's commandments; ask yourself if you love your enemies; if you rejoice in your enemy's triumph, and if you are sad at his downfall; do you know yourself to be an unprofitable servant and a sinner beyond all others? But not even then must you think that you have corrected all your faults; to entertain such a thought as that would undo all the other good you have done.'

Matthew 6:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Another hermit said: 'Unless the miller blindfolds the donkey in the treadmill, it will turn round and eat the corn. God has mercifully blindfolded us, so that we cannot see the good that we do, for then we should perhaps praise ourselves and lose our reward. That is why we are left for a time with bad thoughts, so that when we see them, we judge and condemn ourselves. Those very thoughts are the cloth that blindfolds us and prevents goodness from being seen. When a man accuses himself, he does not lose his reward.'

Matthew 6:7-8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'Snatch your neighbour from his sins, so far as you can, and refrain from condemning him, for God does not reject those who turn to him. Let no evil word about your brother stay in your mind, so that you can say, "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors" (Mt. 7:12).'

Matthew 6:14-15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He said, 'It is if you forgive a brother who has wronged you before he is sorry.'

Matthew 6:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'Let your mind be always on the kingdom of heaven, and you will soon inherit it.'

Matthew 6:34 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

[Syncletica] said, ' "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Eph. 4:26). Likewise, if you wait until the sun is going down on your life, you will not know how to say, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matt. 6:34). Why do you hate the man who has harmed you? It is not he who has harmed you but the devil. You ought to hate the sickness, not the sick man.'

Matthew 7:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

There once came from the city of Rome a monk who had held a high place in the palace. He lived near the church in Scetis, and had with him a servant to take care of him. The priest of the church saw that he was weak and knew that he was used to comfort: and so he passed on to him whatever the Lord gave to him or to the church. After he had lived in Scetis for twenty-five years, he became well known as a man of prayer who had the spirit of prophecy. One of the great Egyptian monks heard of his reputation and came to see him in the hope that he would find there a more austere way of life. He came into his cell and greeted him; after they had prayed they sat down. But the Egyptian saw he had soft clothing, and a bed of reeds, and a blanket under him, and a little pillow under his head, and clean feet with sandals, and he was inwardly contemptuous. In Scetis they never used to live like this, but practised sterner austerity. But the old Roman, with his gift of prayer and insight, saw that the Egyptian monk was shocked to the core. So he said to his servant: 'Make us a good meal today, for this abba who has come.' He cooked the few vegetables that he had, and they ate at the proper hour: he had a little wine because of his weakness, and they drank that. In the evening they said twelve psalms, and went to sleep afterwards; they did the same in the night. In the morning the Egyptian got up and left, and saying, 'Pray for me,' he went away, not at all impressed. When he had gone a little way the old Roman wanted to heal his mind, and sent after him and called him back. He said: 'What is your province?' He answered, 'I am an Egyptian.' He said, 'Of what city?' He answered, 'Of no city, I never lived in a city.' He said, 'Before you were a monk, how did you earn your living?' He answered, 'I was a herdsman.' He said to him, 'Where did you sleep?' He answered, 'In the fields.' He said, 'Had you a mattress?' He answered, 'Why should I have a mattress for sleeping in a field?' He said, 'So how did you sleep?' He replied, 'On the ground.' He said, 'What did you eat when you were in the fields? What wine did you drink?' He answered, 'What kind of food and drink do you find in a field?' He said, 'How then did you live?' He answered, 'I ate dry bread, and salt fish if there was any, and I drank water.' Then the Roman said, 'A hard life,' and he added, 'Was there a bath on the farm where you worked?' The Egyptian said, 'No: I washed in the river, when I wanted to.' When the hermit had extracted these answers, and knew how the Egyptian lived and worked before he became a monk, he wanted to help him: and so he described his own past life in the world. 'This wretch in front of you came from the great city of Rome, where I had an important post at the palace in the Emperor's service.' When the Egyptian heard this first sentence, he was moved, and began to listen attentively. He went on, 'So I left Rome, and came into this desert. I, whom you see, had great houses and wealth and I scorned them, and came to this little cell. I, whom you see, had beds decked with gold, with costly coverings: and instead of them God gave me this bed of reeds and this blanket. My clothes were rich and expensive: and instead of them I wear these tatters.' He went on, 'I used to spend much money on my dinner table and instead of it He has given me these few vegetables and this little cup of wine. Many servants used to wait upon me, and instead the Lord has given one man alone to look after me. Instead of a bath I dip my feet in a little bowl of water, and I use sandals because of my infirmity. For the pipe and the lyre and all the varieties of music which used to delight me at dinner I say twelve psalms in the day, and twelve psalms in the night. For the sins which once I committed, I now offer this poor and useless service to God in quietness. See then, abba, do not be scornful of my weakness.' When the Egyptian had listened to him, he came to his senses and said, 'I am…

Matthew 7:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

Matthew 7:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

This story was told: There were three friends, serious men, who became monks. One of them chose to make peace between men who were at odds, as it is written, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matt. 5:9). The second chose to visit the sick. The third chose to go away to be quiet in solitude. Now the first, toiling among contentions, was not able to settle all quarrels and, overcome with weariness, he went to him who tended the sick, and found him also failing in spirit and unable to carry out his purpose. So the two went away to see him who had withdrawn into the desert, and they told him their troubles. They asked him to tell them how he himself had fared. He was silent for a while, and then poured water into a vessel and said, 'Look at the water,' and it was murky. After a little while he said again, 'See now, how clear the water has become.' As they looked into the water they saw their own faces, as in a mirror. Then he said to them, 'So it is with anyone who lives in a crowd; because of the turbulence, he does not see his sins: but when he has been quiet, above all in solitude, then he recognizes his own faults.'

Matthew 7:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is meant by the text "Narrow and strait is the way" (Matt. 7:14)?' He answered, 'Narrow and strait is the way by which a man does violence to his thoughts and for God's sake breaks down his self-will. This is what was written about the apostles, "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee" (Matt. 19:27).'

Matthew 7:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If a man has words but no works, he is like a tree with leaves but no fruit. Just as a tree laden with fruit is also leafy, the man of good works will also have good words.'

Matthew 11:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 11:30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 12:20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 12:34-35 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 16:25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'To go against self is the beginning of salvation.'

Matthew 17:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John the Short said, 'If a king wants to take a city filled with his enemies, he first captures their food and water, and when they are starving he subdues them. So it is with gluttony. If a man is sincere about fasting and is hungry, the enemies that trouble his soul will grow weak.'

Matthew 18:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'The tree of life is high, and humility climbs it.'

Matthew 18:8-9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 18:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 19:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 20:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He answered, 'Humility is a great work, and a work of God. The way of humility is to undertake bodily labour, and believe yourself a sinner, and make yourself the servant of all.' A brother said, 'What does it mean, to be the servant of all?' He answered, 'To be the servant of all is not to look at the sins of others, always to look at your own sins, and to pray to God without ceasing.'

Matthew 22:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Some of the hermits once came to Joseph in Panephysis, to ask him if they should break their fast when they received brothers as guests, to celebrate their coming. Before they asked their question, Joseph said to them, 'Think about what I am going to do today.' He put two seats made of reeds tied in bundles, one on his left and the other on his right, and said, 'Sit down.' Then he went into his cell and put on rags; he came out, and walked past them, and then went in again and put on his ordinary clothes. The visitors were astonished, and asked him what it meant. He said to them, 'Did you see what I did?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Did the rags change me for the better?' They said, 'No.' He said, 'Did good clothes change me for the worse?' They said, 'No.' He said, 'So I am myself whether I wear good clothes or rags. I was not changed for better or worse because I changed my clothes. That is how we ought to be when we receive guests. It is written in the Holy Gospel, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21). When visitors come we should welcome them and celebrate with them. It is when we are by ourselves that we ought to be sorrowful.' When they heard this they were amazed that he knew what they intended to ask him, and they praised God.

Matthew 23:2-3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Poemen also said, 'Teach your heart to follow what your tongue is saying to others.' He also said, 'Men try to appear excellent in preaching but they are less excellent in practising what they preach.'

Matthew 23:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Three brothers once came to a hermit in Scetis. One of them said to him, 'Abba, I have memorized the Old and New Testaments.' But the hermit answered, 'And you have filled the air with words.' The second said to him, 'I have written out the Old and New Testaments with my own hand.' But the hermit said, 'And you have filled the window-ledge with manuscripts.' The third said, 'The grass is growing up my chimney.' But the hermit answered, 'And you have driven away hospitality.'

Matthew 23:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'He who is praised and honoured above what he deserves suffers grievous loss. He who receives no honour at all among men, shall be glorified hereafter.'

Matthew 23:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 23:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 24:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

The demons, wanting to tempt a hermit, said to him, 'Would you like to see Christ?' He said, 'A curse be upon you and him by whom you speak. I believe my Christ when He said, "If anyone says to you, 'Lo, here is Christ,' or 'Lo, there,' do not believe him" (Matt. 24:23).' They vanished at the words.

Matthew 25:35-36 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'Suppose there are two monks: one stays quietly in his cell, fasting for six days at a time, laying many hardships on himself: and the other ministers to the sick. Which of them is more pleasing to God?' He replied, 'Even if the brother who fasts six days hung himself up by his nose, he wouldn't be the equal of him who ministers to the sick.'

Matthew 25:40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 26:26-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 26:41 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 28:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Palladius said, 'The soul which is being trained according to the will of Christ should either be earnest in learning what it does not know, or should publicly teach what it does know. If it wants to do neither, though it could, it is mad. The first step on the road away from God is contempt for teaching, that is, not to want to give food to the soul that truly wants it.'

Micah 6:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked a hermit, 'Tell me something good that I may do it and live by it.' The hermit said, 'God alone knows what is good. But I have heard that one of the hermits asked the great Nesteros, who was a friend of Antony, 'What good work shall I do?' and he replied, 'Surely all works please God equally? Scripture says, Abraham was hospitable and God was with him; Elijah loved quiet and God was with him; David was humble and God was with him.' So whatever you find you are drawn to in following God's will, do it and let your heart be at peace.'

Mark 14:22-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mark 16:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 2:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 2:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

Philippians 2:12-13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Daniel used to say that Arsenius told him a story, as if he were speaking of some other man, and it went like this: Whilst a certain hermit was sitting in his cell, a voice came to him which said, 'Come here, and I will show you the works of the children of men,' so he got up and went out. The voice led him out and showed him a black man cutting wood; he made up a large bundle and wanted to take it away, but he could not do so. Then instead of making the bundle smaller, he went and cut down some more wood, and added it to the first, and this he did many times. When he had gone on a little further, the voice showed him a man who was standing by a pit drawing up water; he poured it out into a certain hollowed-out place, and when he had poured the water into it, it ran down back into the pit. Again the voice said to him, 'Come, and I will show you other things.' Then he looked, and, behold, there was a temple, and two men on horseback were carrying a piece of wood as wide as the temple between them. They wanted to go in through the door, but the width of the wood did not let them do so, and they would not humble themselves to go in one after his companion to bring it in end-wise, and so they remained outside the door. Now these are the men who bear the yoke of righteousness with boasting, and they will not be humble enough to correct themselves and go in by the humble way of Christ, and therefore they remain outside the kingdom of God. The man who was cutting wood is the man who labours at many sins, and who, instead of repenting and diminishing his sins, adds other wickednesses to them. Now he who was drawing water is the man who does good works, but because other things are mingled in his good works they are lost. It is right for us to be watchful in all we do, lest we toil in vain.

Philippians 2:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'If your attention falters, pray. As it is written, pray in fear and trembling (cf. Phil. 2:12), earnestly and watchfully. We ought to pray like that, especially because our unseen and wicked enemies are trying to hinder us forcefully.'

Philippians 3:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Proverbs 1:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 3:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 3:11-12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 4:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 4:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 8:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 9:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 10:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 11:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 12:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 14:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'Do not be pleased at everything that is said, and do not agree with everything that is said. Be slow to believe, and quick to say what is true.'

Proverbs 14:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 15:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 16:28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 17:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 18:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother said to Poemen, 'If I see something wrong do you want me to tell you about it?' He said to him, 'It is written, "If a man answers before he has heard, it is foolishness to him and discredit" (Sirach 11:8). If you are asked, speak; if not, say nothing.'

Proverbs 20:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 21:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Proverbs 25:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Proverbs 27:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 4:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 4:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 18:29-30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'The will of man is a wall of brass, and a stone barrier between himself and God. If he puts it aside, he can say the words of the psalm, "By the help of my God I shall leap over the wall" and, "as for my God, his way is undefiled" (Ps. 18:29–30). If good conduct helps the will, then a man will do good.'

Psalms 37:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 42:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Poemen said, 'It is written, "Like as the hart longs for the waterbrooks, so longs my soul for you, O my God" (Ps. 42:1). Indeed, the harts in the desert eat many snakes and when their venom makes them burn with thirst they come to the waters to assuage their burning thirst. It is the same for monks: in the desert, they are burned by the poison of the demons and they long for Saturday and Sunday to come so that they can go to the springs of water, that is, to the Body and Blood of the Lord, to be purified from the poison of the evil ones.'

Psalms 46:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Poemen said, 'Whatever hardship comes upon you, it can be overcome by silence.'

Psalms 51:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Some monks called Euchites, or 'men of prayer', once came to Lucius in the ninth region of Alexandria. He asked them, 'What manual work do you do?' They said, 'We do not work with our hands. We obey St Paul's command and pray without ceasing' (1 Thess. 5:17). He said to them, 'Don't you eat?' They said, 'Yes, we do.' He said to them: 'When you are eating who prays for you?' Then he asked them, 'Don't you sleep?' They said, 'Yes, we do.' He said, 'Who prays for you while you are asleep?' and they could not answer him. Then he said to them, 'I may be wrong, brothers, but it seems to me that you don't do what you say. I will show you how I pray without ceasing although I work with my hands. With God's help, I sit down with a few palm leaves, and plait them, and say, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great mercy: and according to the multitude of thy mercies do away with mine iniquity' (Ps. 51:1). He asked them, 'Is that prayer, or not?' They said, 'It's prayer all right.' He said, 'When I spend all day working and praying in my heart, I make about sixteen pence. Two of these I put outside the door, and with the rest I buy food. Whoever finds the two pennies outside the door prays for me while I am eating and sleeping: and so by God's grace I fulfil the text, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).'

Psalms 66:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 74:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A brother asked one of the hermits, 'If I happen to over-sleep, and am late for the hour of prayer, I am ashamed that others will hear me praying so late, and so I become reluctant to keep the rule of prayer.' He said, 'If ever you oversleep in the morning, get up when you wake, shut the door and the windows, and say your psalms. For it is written, "The day is thine and the night is thine" (Ps. 74:16). God is glorified whatever time it is.'

Psalms 90:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If you lose gold or silver, you can find something as good as you lost. But the man who loses time can never make up what he has lost.'

Psalms 92:12-13 — SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS 186

An old man used to say, "It is written, 'The righteous one shall blossom like the palm tree.' " Now these words make known that the soul acquires height, and straightness of stature and sweetness from beautiful deeds. But there is another quality that is found in the palm, that is, a single, white heart, which is wholly suitable for work (or useful for being worked). And this must be found in the righteous person, for his heart must be single and simple, and it must be accustomed to look toward God only. Now the heart of the palm tree is also white by reason of that fire that it possesses naturally, and all the service of the righteous person is in his heart; and the hollowness and the evenness of the tops of the leaves [typify] the setting up of sharpness of the soul of the righteous person against the calumniator.

Psalms 107:23-30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 110:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 111:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 118:6-7 — SAYINGS OF THE EGYPTIAN FATHERS 36

A brother asked an old man, "What shall a man do in every temptation that comes on him and in every thought sent by the enemy?" He replied, "He must weep in the sight of the goodness of God, that he may aid and assist him. For it is written, 'The Lord is with me to help me, and I shall avenge myself upon my foes.' "

Psalms 118:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 119:105 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 119:164 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 139:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

They used to say about Poemen that when he was ready to go out to the meeting for prayer, he first sat by himself for an hour in self-examination, and then went.

Romans 2:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 3:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Romans 7:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 11:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:6-8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Two hermits lived together for many years without a quarrel. One said to the other, 'Let's have a quarrel with each other, as other men do.' The other answered, 'I don't know how a quarrel happens.' The first said, 'Look here, I put a brick between us, and I say, "That's mine." Then you say, "No, it's mine." That is how you begin a quarrel.' So they put a brick between them, and one of them said, 'That's mine.' The other said, 'No; it's mine.' He answered, 'Yes, it's yours. Take it away.' They were unable to argue with each other.

Romans 12:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Romans 14:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 14:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

SIR 11:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Article

Desert Fathers — commentary on Scripture

📅 September 1, 2026

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Gregory said, 'God asks three things of anyone who is baptized: to keep the true faith with all his soul and all his might; to control his tongue; to be chaste in his body.'

1 Corinthians 7:20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 8:2-3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 9:25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 9:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

1 Corinthians 10:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 10:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 11:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 13:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Corinthians 15:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 John 1:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Peter 1:6-7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Peter 2:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

1 Peter 3:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Peter 4:12-13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Peter 5:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Peter 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Samuel 2:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Gregory said, 'God asks three things of anyone who is baptized: to keep the true faith with all his soul and all his might; to control his tongue; to be chaste in his body.'

1 Thessalonians 5:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Thessalonians 5:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Timothy 4:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Timothy 6:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

1 Timothy 6:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 4:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 5:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 7:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 9:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 10:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Corinthians 12:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Timothy 1:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Timothy 2:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Timothy 2:24-25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

2 Timothy 3:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Acts 5:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Colossians 3:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'A monk ought not to listen to disparagement; he ought not to be disparaging, and he ought not to be scornful.'

Colossians 4:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Deuteronomy 6:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Deuteronomy 32:35 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ecclesiastes 3:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ecclesiastes 7:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ecclesiastes 12:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 4:26-27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 4:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 4:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'A monk ought not to listen to disparagement; he ought not to be disparaging, and he ought not to be scornful.'

Ephesians 4:31-32 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 5:15-16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If you lose gold or silver, you can find something as good as you lost. But the man who loses time can never make up what he has lost.'

Ephesians 5:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 6:11 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ephesians 6:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Ezekiel 14:14 — SAYINGS OF THE DESERT FATHERS 193

Ezekiel 36:26 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 5:16-17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Fasting is the monk's control over sin. The man who stops fasting is like a stallion who lusts the moment he sees a mare.'

Galatians 6:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Macarius said also, 'If you are stirred to anger when you want to reprove someone, you are gratifying your own passions. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.'

Galatians 6:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:9-10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Galatians 6:9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'We do not make progress because we do not realize how much we can do. We lose interest in the work we have begun, and we want to be good without even trying.'

Genesis 3:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Genesis 3:6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Genesis 14:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Genesis 22:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 1:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked how it was that some people said they had seen angels. He answered, 'Blessed is he who always sees his own sins.'

Hebrews 4:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 7:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 12:29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 13:2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hebrews 13:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Isaiah 6:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mathois said, 'The nearer a man comes to God, the more he sees himself to be a sinner. Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord and knew himself to be wretched and unclean (Is. 6:5).'

James 1:2-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:14-15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Macarius said also, 'If you are stirred to anger when you want to reprove someone, you are gratifying your own passions. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.'

James 1:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 1:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 2:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If a man has words but no works, he is like a tree with leaves but no fruit. Just as a tree laden with fruit is also leafy, the man of good works will also have good words.'

James 3:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 3:5-6 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

James 3:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

James 4:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

James 4:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

One of the hermits said, 'No one can see his face reflected in muddy water; so the soul cannot pray to God with contemplation unless it is first cleansed of harmful thoughts.'

James 5:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John 6:55 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John 13:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John 15:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John 21:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Job 1:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Job 1:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Job 40:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joshua 5:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joshua 14:11 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Lamentations 3:39-40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'In every trial do not blame other people but blame yourself, saying, "This has happened to me because of my sins." '

Luke 5:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mathois said, 'The nearer a man comes to God, the more he sees himself to be a sinner. Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord and knew himself to be wretched and unclean (Is. 6:5).'

Luke 6:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He said, 'It is if you forgive a brother who has wronged you before he is sorry.'

Luke 6:31 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 6:39-40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 9:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'To go against self is the beginning of salvation.'

Luke 10:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 10:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 10:42 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 14:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 18:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 21:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 21:34 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Luke 22:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

John of the Thebaid said, 'Above all a monk should be humble. For this is the Saviour's first commandment, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3).'

Matthew 5:11-12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

Matthew 5:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:28-29 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:39 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:41 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 5:43-44 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Matthew 5:44 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:7-8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:14-15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit was asked, 'What is humility?' He said, 'It is if you forgive a brother who has wronged you before he is sorry.'

Matthew 6:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 6:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'Let your mind be always on the kingdom of heaven, and you will soon inherit it.'

Matthew 6:34 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

Matthew 7:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 7:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If a man has words but no works, he is like a tree with leaves but no fruit. Just as a tree laden with fruit is also leafy, the man of good works will also have good words.'

Matthew 11:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 11:30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 12:20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 12:34-35 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 16:25 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Evagrius said, 'To go against self is the beginning of salvation.'

Matthew 17:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 18:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Hyperichius said, 'The tree of life is high, and humility climbs it.'

Matthew 18:8-9 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 18:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 19:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 20:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 22:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 23:2-3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 23:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 23:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'He who is praised and honoured above what he deserves suffers grievous loss. He who receives no honour at all among men, shall be glorified hereafter.'

Matthew 23:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 23:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 24:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 25:35-36 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 25:40 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 26:26-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 26:41 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Matthew 28:19-20 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Micah 6:8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mark 14:22-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Mark 16:17 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 2:3-4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 2:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

Philippians 2:12-13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 2:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Philippians 3:13-14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Proverbs 1:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 3:5 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 3:11-12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 4:7 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 4:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 8:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 9:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 10:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 11:14 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 12:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 14:15 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'Do not be pleased at everything that is said, and do not agree with everything that is said. Be slow to believe, and quick to say what is true.'

Proverbs 14:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 15:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 16:28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 17:27-28 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 18:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 20:22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Proverbs 21:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Proverbs 25:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Proverbs 27:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 4:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 4:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 18:29-30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 37:27 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 42:1-2 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 46:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Poemen said, 'Whatever hardship comes upon you, it can be overcome by silence.'

Psalms 51:1 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 66:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 74:16 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 90:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

A hermit said, 'If you lose gold or silver, you can find something as good as you lost. But the man who loses time can never make up what he has lost.'

Psalms 92:12-13 — SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS 186

Psalms 107:23-30 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 110:4 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 111:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 118:6-7 — SAYINGS OF THE EGYPTIAN FATHERS 36

Psalms 118:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 119:105 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 119:164 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Psalms 139:23-24 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

They used to say about Poemen that when he was ready to go out to the meeting for prayer, he first sat by himself for an hour in self-examination, and then went.

Romans 2:21-22 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 3:10 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

Romans 7:23 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 11:33 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:3 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:6-8 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:18 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:19 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 12:21 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

Romans 14:12 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Romans 14:13 — The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'