Love is the fruit of prayer ... Patiently abiding in prayer signifies a man's renunciation of himself. Therefore the self-denial of the soul turns into love for God.

Be at peace with your own soul, then heaven and earth will be at peace with you.

The prayer of one who does not consider himself a sinner is not accepted by the Lord.

Above anything, welcome silence, for it brings fruits that no tongue can speak of, neither can it be explained.

Conquer evil people by gentle kindness, and make zealous people wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion.

As a handful of sand thrown into the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mind of God.

The man with a heart cannot think about or see creatures without his eyes filling up with tears because of the immense compassion which seizes his heart.

Someone who bears a grudge while he prays is like a person who sows in the sea and expects to reap a harvest.

The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.

This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.

God requires not the doing of the commandments for their own sake, but the correction of the soul, for whose sake He established the commandments.

I was still searching for someone to blame for my suffering. I really wanted someone to transfer my hate to, so that I could stop hating myself.

Capitalism means that a few people will do very well, and the rest will serve the few.

True love is a lack of desire to check one's smartphone in another's presence.

Don't strive for perfection. It doesn't exist. Strive for a better you. That's always in reach.

I have too much work on my hands and I would not be a dutiful husband.

America exhausts the springs of one's soul - I suppose that's what it exists for. It lives to see all real spontaneity expire. But anyhow it doesn't grind on an old nerve as Europe seems to.

To me, the real marks of beauty in a woman are courage, character, kindness, and personality.

There's nothing makes you admire people like seeing yourself in them.

What do I think of L.A.? It's boring, with some amazing nuggets. Like there are some parts of it that are great, but by and large I think it's quite boring.

My nickname when I was young was Teddy, so people would call me Teddy Bear.