Isaac of Nineveh: Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor. Be cruc...

There is love like a small lamp, which goes out when the oil is consumed; or like a stream which dries up when it doesn't rain. But there is a love that is like a mighty spring gushing up out of the earth; it keeps flowing forever, and is inexhaustible.

Isaac of Nineveh

oil rain spring

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

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

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

Isaac of Nineveh

tongue saint silence

There is no man who will not be grieved at the time of his chastisement; and there is not man who will not endure a bitter time, when he must drink the poison of temptations. Without them, it is not possible to obtain a strong will. When he has often experienced the help of God in temptations, a man also obtains strong faith.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

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

Isaac of Nineveh

christian bears sea

Humility collects the soul into a single point by the power of silence. A truly humble man has no desire to be known or admired by others, but wishes to plunge from himself into himself, to become nothing, as if he had never been born. When he is completely hidden to himself in himself, he is completely with God

Isaac of Nineveh

humility humble men

In all things that you find in the Holy Scriptures, seek out the purpose of the words, that you may enter into the depth of the thoughts of the saints and understand them with greater exactness. Do not approach the reading of the Divine Scriptures without prayer and asking the help of God. Consider prayer to be the key to the true understanding of that which is said in the Holy Scriptures.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

Love sinners, but hate their deeds, and do not disdain sinners for their failings, so that you yourself do not fall into the temptation in which they abide... Do not be angry at anyone and do not hate anyone, neither for their faith, nor for their shameful deeds... Do not foster hatred for the sinner, for we are all guilty... Hate his sins, and pray for him, so that you may be made like unto Christ, who had no dislike for sinners, but prayed for them.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

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

Isaac of Nineveh

evil-people compassion kindness

Someone who has actually tasted truth is not contentious for truth. Someone who is considered by people to be zealous for truth has not yet learned what truth is really like; once he has truly learned it, he will cease from zealousness on its behalf.

Isaac of Nineveh

zealous truth-is people

Let there always be a preponderance of mercy with you, even though you don't feel such mercy in yourself, as God has for the world ... A cruel and merciless heart is never purified. A merciful man is the doctor of his own soul, because as it were a by a strong wind from is heart he drives out the darkness of the passions.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

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.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

Solitude is an ocean with wonderful places hidden in its depths.

Isaac of Nineveh

wisdom wise clever

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

Isaac of Nineveh

ocean christian mind

The wisdom of the Holy Spirit is much greater than the wisdom of the entire world. Within the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, silence prevails; the wisdom of the world, however, goes astray into idle talk.

Isaac of Nineveh

silence spirit world

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

Isaac of Nineveh

repentance vain waste

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.

Isaac of Nineveh

eye kindness heart

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.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

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

Isaac of Nineveh

mourning christian men

It is impossible to draw near to God without sorrows, without which human righteousness cannot remain unchanged... If you desire virtue, than give yourself to every affliction, for afflictions produce humility. If someone abides in virtue without afflictions, the door of pride is opened to him.

Isaac of Nineveh

religious christian inspirational

Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor. Be crucified, rather than be a crucifier. Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly. Be oppressed, rather than be an oppressor. Be gentle rather than zealous. Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice.