St. Benedict Quotes

Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.

Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, and at other times in devout reading.

The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience.

Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.

Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.

He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.

Let the mind dwell on pure and holy thoughts, and the soul will be cleansed by them.

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

The good of all concerned, however, may suggest sometimes that what is not customarily done should be undertaken.

When you begin any good work, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect what you have begun.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

The rule of Saint Benedict is the strong arm of the Church’s warfare, a sweet smelling thing and, as it were, a spiritual weapon.

And if you have a sudden insight while reading, write this down: because often while reading we are struck by some things which would be a great benefit to us which our forgetfulness would cause to be lost.

Prayer is the piercing of our hearts to God by which we are embraced by him and do not forget him.

Hate your own will, and seek nothing whatsoever after your own liking.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King…

A person who is angry, even if he prays well, loses all the fruit of his prayer.

They(monks) should each try to be the first to show respect to the other…

A monk’s cell is truly called a little paradise.

From long and frequent reading of the Fathers we acquire the gift of speaking well.

The evil of lust, however, must at all costs be cut out of the heart while it is still young…

A monk is a bearer of God’s name, not because of his habit or tonsure but because of his humility and feelings in his heart.

Listen carefully, my child, to your master’s precepts, and incline the ear of your heart.

Do not be heedless or thoughtless; keep the fear of God always before your eyes.

It is better to accomplish a little with fear of God than to accomplish a great deal with pride.

Make peace with one another and do not pursue a rotten peace.

Certain evil thoughts trouble the heart, attacking it until it is exhausted through resisting them.

Keep a constant guard over your heart and be aware of your thoughts.

True Obedience requires us to free ourselves from self-will.

The eyes of God are everywhere, observing the good and the evil in every place.

Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way.

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may He bring us all together to everlasting life.

At the work of God, therefore, the brethren should be occupied at certain times…

The first degree of humility, then, is that a person always have the fear of God…

They must cherish silence at all times, but especially during the hours of the night.

Do not aspire to be called ‘holy’ before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.

Do not be proud of your presence or vexed by your absence…

Speak gently, with humility, and with few words, and speak reasonably and not with volubility or with laughter.

At the Day of Judgment you will be judged more sternly for your omissions than for your offenses.

Let us, therefore, put all else aside and let the Lord say to us what is truly good.

Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.

Prayer is the piercing of our hearts to God by which we are embraced by him and do not forget him.

Keep pure intention always before your eyes, and remember that we do not work for others, but for the Lord.

Listen, my son, to your master’s precepts, and incline the ear of your heart.

Whatever task needs to be done, let it be done now.

Let the mind dwell on pure and holy thoughts, and the soul will be cleansed by them.

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may He bring us all together to everlasting life.

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.