“Recognize the root of anger and wrath.
Root it out with its very opposite, humility,
with the help of God, Who looks upon the humble.”

“You become upset, and malice against
everyone boils in your soul;
this if from self-love and vainglory.
Always strive to consider yourself to be
worse and more sinful than anyone on
the earth in the sight of God.
During such a time, fervently say,
‘Lord have mercy on us sinners,’
which will include you and those
with whom you have become angry.”

“A repentant sinner is more pleasing to God
than a person who has not sinned, but is
haughty. It is better having sinned, to repent,
than not sinning and to be proud of it. The
Pharisee refrained from sin, but for being
puffed up and condemning the Publican, he
was deprived of his righteousness before God;
but the Publican, having sinned greatly,
through the humble acknowledgement of this
and enduring the reproaches of the Pharisee,
received not only the forgiveness of sins, but
he surpassed the justification of the Pharisee.”

“Sins are like walnuts—you split open the
shell, but the meat is hard to extract.”