36 Quotes by John Chrysostom

The merciful man is as a harbour to those who are in need; and the harbour receives all who are escaping shipwreck, and frees them from danger, whether they be evil or good; whatsoever kind of men they be that are in peril, it receives them into its shelter. You also, when you see a man suffering shipwreck on land through poverty, do not sit in judgment on him, nor require explanations, but relieve his distress.

Mercy is called by that name for this reason, that it gives even to the unworthy.

How is it not absurd to send children out to trades, and to school, and to do all you can for these objects, and yet, not to “bring them up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord”?

But first I want you to tell me this: do you know the power of love? Christ passed over all the marvellous works which were to be performed by the apostles and said, “By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.

When then, I pray you, are we to do what is commanded, and to put our hand to the works, if we do not endure so much as to hear the words that relate to them, but are impatient and restless about the time we stay here, although it be exceedingly short? 16. And besides, when we are talking of indifferent.

For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force.

A comprehended god is no god.

Hell is paved with priests' skulls.

Slander is worse than cannibalism.