The Spiritual Pilgrim's Guidebook - St. John Climacus
- A firm faith is the mother of the renunciation of the world; the opposite, obviously, produces the opposite effect.
- Unwavering hope is the door to the renunciation of every earthly affection; the opposite, obviously produces the opposite effect.
- The love of God is the basis of detachment from the world; and here too the opposite, obviously, has the opposite effect.
- Self-control is the mother of spiritual health. The mother of self-control is the thought of death combined with the remembrance of the sharpness of the wrath of the Lord our God.
- Solitude and silence help to maintain purity; fasting pours water on the fire of the passions.
- Contrition is the enemy of evil and base thoughts.
- The death of avarice is attained by faith and flight from the world.
- Perseverance in prayer is the annihilation of sloth.
- The thought of judgment stirs the will to good purpose.
- Love of humiliation is the cure for anger.
- Detachment from visible things is to open your eyes to the invisible.
- Silence and solitude are the enemies of pride; if you are involved with people, keep an eye out for occasions of humiliation.
- Visible pride is cured by an attitude that is empty of arrogance; invisible pride is cured by the Eternal Invisible.
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