37 Quotes by John Climacus

Pride is the utter poverty of soul disguised as riches, imaginary light where in fact there is darkness.

The friend of silence comes close to God. In secret he converses with him and receives his light.

An angel fell from Heaven without any other passion except pride, and so we may ask whether it is possible to ascend to Heaven by humility alone, without any other of the virtues.

Humility is constant forgetfulness of one’s achievements.

Forgetting offences is a sign of sincere repentance. If you keep the memory of them, you may believe you have repented but you are like someone running in his sleep. Let no one consider it a minor defect, this darkness that often clouds the eyes even of spiritual people.

As long as anger lives, it continues to be the fruitful parent of many unhappy children.

I would not consider my spirituality worthwhile that wants to walk in sweetness and ease and run from the imitation of Christ.

The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the soul is still excited. The goal is a perfect peacefulness even in the middle of the raging storm.

Faith furnishes prayer with wings, without which it cannot soar to Heaven.