Quotes from Marcus Eremita

Every affliction tests our will, showing whether it is inclined to good or evil. That is why an unforeseen affliction is called a test, because it enables a man to test his hidden desires.

Conquer temptations by the patience and prayer. If you oppose them without these, you will fall all the more severely.

Because God's justice is inexorable, it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins committed with complete deliberation.

As water and fire oppose one another when combined, so are self-justification and humility opposed to one another.

It is better to pray with good will for our neighbor, rather than to denounce him for every sin.

Every sin that is left without repentance is a sin unto death, for which if even a saint shall pray, he shall not be heard.

Whoever prays for those who hurt him lays the demons low; but he who opposes his affronter is bound to the demons.

If someone falls into any sin and is not sincerely grieved about it, it is easy for him to fall into the same thing again.

One who has sinned cannot escape retribution in any other way than by repentance corresponding to his sin.

When the mind forgets the purpose of Christian life, then even the clear fulfillment of virtue becomes profitless.

If someone puts his trust in God in a matter, let him not argue with his brother about it.

Do not desire to hear about the misfortunes of those who oppose you. For those who listen to such speech later reap the fruits of their evil intention.

If you want the Lord to hide your sins, then don't talk to people about what kind of virtues you have. For as we relate to our virtues, so God relates to our sins.

A man who is enticed by sinful thoughts is blinded by them, and he sees the action of sin in himself, but he can not see the cause of this action.

The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise he can't lead us to greater evil.

Failure to do the good that is within your power is hard to forgive. But mercy and prayer reclaim the negligent.

Whatever we do or say without prayer always ends up either sinful or harmful and convicts us through the deeds in some mysterious way.

Whoever does not fight the one who despises him, neither in word not in thought, has received true knowledge and demonstrates a firm trust in God.

Do not try to decide a difficult matter by means of disputing, but that which is enjoined by the spiritual law, namely patience, prayer, and thoughtful hope.

Whoever has a spiritual gift and compassionate toward one who does not have it guards his gift through his compassion. But whoever is proud of his gift loses it through self-opinion.

One evil receives strength from another. In the same way, good deeds also sprout one from another, and the one in whom they are found grows larger.

Do not think about or do anything without a spiritual purpose, whereby it is done for God. For If you travel without purpose, you shall labor in vain.

The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us. It was with such love that the Lord loved the world.

Do not attempt to benefit by rebukes one who boasts of his virtues, for he loves to display himself can not be a lover of truth.