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? - Poemen

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: 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."

Ward: A brother going to market asked Abba Poemen, "How do you advise me to behave?"
The old man said to him, "Make friends with anyone who tries to bully you and sell your produce in peace."