The eye of the soul cannot be led astray when its veil, by which I mean the body, is refined to near-transparency through self-control. - Diadochos of Photiki

Spiritual discourse always keeps the soul free from self-esteem, for it gives every part of the soul a sense of light, so that it no longer needs the praise of men.

Timely silence, then, is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts.

If the soul, through attentiveness, reduces the blindness caused by the love of this world, it will consider its slightest faults to be very grave and will continually shed tears. ... But if the soul persists in its worldly disposition, even though it commits a murder or some other act deserving severe punishment, it takes little notice; and it is quite unable to discern its other faults, often considering them to be signs of progress, and in its wretchedness it is not ashamed to defend them heatedly.