Chrysostom Quotes

“The Jews were God's chosen people.”

“As a moth gnaws a garment so doth envy consume a man.”

“The bee is more honored than other animals not because she labors but because she labors for others.”

“As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a [person].”

“No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”

“If then we have angels, let us be sober, as though we were in the presence of tutors; for there is a demon present also.”

“I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in not enjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants to receive it. And if he wants to receive it, he cannot help but being distraught at losing it. Those who are in love with applause have their spirits starved not only when they are blamed off-hand, but even when they fail to be constantly praised.”

“Since it is likely that, being men, they would sin every day, St. Paul consoles his hearers by saying ‘renew yourselves’ from day to day. This is what we do with houses: we keep constantly repairing them as they wear old. You should do the same thing to yourself. Have you sinned today? Have you made your soul old? Do not despair, do not despond, but renew your soul by repentance, and tears, and Confession, and by doing good things. And never cease doing this.”

“For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force.”