Who, when asked, will refuse to give what is needful to one who lives a holy life? - Nilus of Sinai

By crouching a little we are able to spring upwards; and in the same way our faculty of discrimination, after stooping to attend to the needs of the body, can once more look upwards unimpeded, separating itself from all worldly thoughts.

The philosopher must be above all a free man, and not a slave of the passions.

Why do we cling to money and possessions, and disperse our intellect among a host of useless cares? Our preoccupation with such things diverts us from what is more important and makes us neglect the well-being of the soul, leading us to perdition.