Jane Galawis

“Evagrius said, ‘A wandering mind is strengthened by reading, and prayer. Passion is dampened down by hunger and work and solitude. Anger is repressed by psalmody and long-suffering and mercy. But all these should be at the proper times and in due measure.”
― Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

“Daniel said, ‘If the body is strong, the soul weakens. If the body weakens, the soul is strong.”
― Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

“Two hermits lived together for many years without a quarrel. One said to the other, ‘Let’s have a quarrel with each other, as is the way of men.’ The other answered, ‘I don’t know how a quarrel happens.’ The first said, ‘Look here, I put a brick between us, and I say, That’s mine. Then you say, No, it’s mine. That is how you begin a quarrel.’ So they put a brick between them, and one of them said, ‘That’s mine.’ The other said, ‘No; it’s mine.’ He answered, ‘Yes, it’s yours. Take it away.’ They were unable to argue with each other.26”
― Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

“Arsenius always used to say this, ‘Why, words, did I let you get out? I have often been sorry that I have spoken, never that I have been silent.”
― Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks