“This life was given to you for repentance, do not waste it in vain pursuits.”

“Make peace with yourself, and both heaven and earth will make peace with you.”

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.“But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant.“Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen”

“Let books be your dining table, / And you shall be full of delights. / Let them be your mattress,/And you shall sleep restful nights”

“This Lord of natures today was transformed contrary to His nature; it is not too difficult for us to also overthrow our evil will." Hymns of the Nativity, Hymn 1:97, pg. 74 in Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns (New York: Paulist Press, 1989).”

“What does the Spirit do? His works are ineffable in majesty, and innumerable in quantity. How can we even ponder what extends beyond the ages? What did He do before creation began? How great are the graces He showered on creation? What power will He wield in the age to come? He existed; He pre-existed; He co-existed with the Father and the Son before the ages. Even if you can imagine anything beyond the ages, you will discover that the Spirit is even further before.”

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”