Poemen Quotes

Ward: Abba Poemen said, "If I am in a place where there are enemies, I become a soldier."

Ward: "Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart."

Ward: [Abba Poemen] also said, "The first time flee; the second time, flee; and the third, become like a sword."

Ward: "The victory over all the afflictions that befall you, is, to keep silence."

Ward: A brother asked Abba Poemen, "How should I behave in the place where I live?"
The old man said, "Have the mentality of an exile in the place where you live, do not desire to be listened to and you will have peace."

Ward: A brother asked Abba Poemen, "How should a man behave?"
The old man said to him, "Look at Daniel: no-one found anything in him to complain about except for his prayers to the Lord his God."

Ward: A brother asked Abba Poemen, "Can a man keep all his thoughts in control, and not surrender one to the enemy?"
And the old man said to him, "There are some who receive ten and give one."

Ward: Abba Poemen said, "If a man has sinned and denies it, saying: 'I have not sinned,' do not reprimand him; for that will discourage him.
But say to him, 'Do not lose heart, brother, but be on guard in future,' and you will stir his soul to repentance."

Ward: Abba Isaac came to see Abba Poemen and found him washing his feet. As he enjoyed freedom of speech with him he said, "How is it that others practice austerity and treat their bodies hardly?"
Abba Poemen said to him, "We have not been taught to kill our bodies, but to kill our passions."

How much joy, how much peace of soul would a man not have wherever he went, as Abba Poemen says, if he was one who habitually accused himself?

Ward: "If you are silent, you will have peace wherever you live."

Ward: "If you take little account of yourself, you will have peace, wherever you live."

Ward: Abba Poemen said, "Teach your mouth to say what is in your heart."

Ward: Abba Poemen said to Abba Isaac, "Let go of a small part of your righteousness and in a few days you will be at peace."

Ward: "Even if a man were to make a new heaven and earth, he could not live free of care."