Let us not foolishly waste our abilities of soul and body; let us not bring them as a sacrifice to the vain and fading world. - Ignatius Bryanchaninov

Do you want to belong in heaven and to its society; do you want to be a sharer of its blessedness? From this moment, begin to spend your time with the saints. When you leave your mortal body, they will accept you as their own, as an acquaintance, as a friend.

The spiritual harvest requires a heart that is harrowed by repentance, softened by compunction, and irrigated by tears.

Guard your conscience. Do not forget that you are the image and likeness of God, that you are obliged to present this image in purity and holiness to God himself. Woe to you if God will not recognize His image, will not find in it any similarity with Himself! He will utter the dreadful words: "I do not know you."