Famous quotes
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Said in the 400s
“The desert holds them as in their mothers’ lap while they long for eternity, despising this brief life; indifferent to the present life, they are confident of the life to come. In this way, by hastening toward the world’s end, they manage to attain the world without end.”
Eucherius of Lyon (380–449) said by 449 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The same Abba Theophilus the archbishop once visited Scete. When the brothers were assembled they said to Abba Pambo: “Tell the pope one saying so he might reap benefit in this place.” Said the elder to them: “If he reaps no benefit from my silence, nor can he benefit from my speaking.”
Theophilus I of Alexandria (died 412) said by 412 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A brother visited Abba Elijah who was living in hesychia at the coenobion of the cave of Abba Zabba and he said to him: “Abba, tell me a saying.” The elder said to the brother: “In the days of our fathers these three virtues were cherished: indifference to possessions, meekness, and continence. Now cupidity, gluttony, and arrogance hold monks in prey. Hold fast to which you will.”
Elias the Hermit (400–400) said by 400 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Orthodox: You should accept no argument that is not fully supported by Scriptural testimony.”
Theodoret (393–466) said by 466 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Eranistes of the Polymorph, Dialogue I, The Immutable. Note: The above is the corrected translation and arrangement between Eranistes and Orthodox as found in Migne, PL 83, cols. 46-48, in which the words of Eranistes a…
“Omnia mors aequat.”
Claudian (370–404) said by 404 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is no wonder that we, though distant, are present to each other and without having known each other we know each other, since we are members of a single body, we have a single head, we are inundated with a single grace, we live on a single bread, we walk on a single road, we live in the same house.”
Paulinus of Nola (354–431) said by 431 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This same norm of Apostolic doctrine is firmly maintained by his (Peter's) successors, of him to whom the Lord entrusted the care of the entire flock of sheep, to whom He promised not to leave him until the end of time.”
Pope Simplicius (420–483) said by 483 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We gaze up at the same stars; the sky covers us all; the same universe encompasses us. What does it matter what practical system we adopt in our search for the truth? The heart of so great a mystery cannot be reached by following one road only.”
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (345–402) said by 402 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let no man judge himself to be a Christian, unless he is one who both follows the teaching of Christ and imitates his example.”
Pelagius (354–420) said by 420 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must not only guard against the possession of money, but also must expel from our souls the desire for it. For we should not so much avoid the results of covetousness, as cut off by the roots all disposition towards it. For it will do no good not to possess money, if there exists in us the desire for getting it.”
John Cassian (360–435) said by 435 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Noi per la fede di Cristo siamo pronti a subire tutto: le catene, il carcere, tutti gli incomodi della vita e la stessa morte.”
Cyril of Alexandria (376–444) said by 444 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Cirillo di Alessandria (it)
“Real progress is through internal development. Change, on the other hand, occurs when one doctrine transforms into another.”
Vincent of Lérins (500–450) said by 450 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“L'ignoranza delle Scritture è un grande precipizio ed un profondo baratro.”
Epiphanius of Salamis (315–403) said by 403 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Epifanio di Salamina (it)
“The mathematician speculates the causes of a certain sensible effect, without considering its actual existence; for the contemplation of universals excludes the knowledge of particulars; and he whose intellectual eye is fixed on that which is general and comprehensive, will think but little of that which is sensible and singular.”
Proclus (412–485) said by 485 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Quid fieri debeat, tractato cum multis, quid uero facturus sis, cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis uel potius ipse tecum.”
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus (400–450) said by 450 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.”
Saint Patrick (385–461) said by 461 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ward: A brother asked Abba Poemen, "How should a man behave?" The old man said to him, "Look at Daniel: no-one found anything in him to complain about except for his prayers to the Lord his God.”
Poemen (340–450) said by 450 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He who does not choose to suffer for the sake of truth will be chastened more painfully by suffering he has not chosen.”
Marcus Eremita (360–430) said by 430 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“God can only set in motion: He cannot control the things he has made.”
Tao Yuanming (365–427) said by 427 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The person who rehearses the Creed, making the sign of the cross upon his forehead, while he says the word, that each believer may know that his flesh, if he have kept it clean from sin, will be a vessel of honour, useful to the Lord, prepared for every good work; but, if defiled by sins, that it will be a vessel of wrath destined to destruction.”
Tyrannius Rufinus (345–411) said by 411 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Abba Isidore of Pelusium used to say: “A life without a word is more advantageous than a word without life; for the first, even in silence, is advantageous, while the second is a trouble-maker when it cries out, whereas if life and word run together they constitute the portrait of all philosophy.”
Isidore of Pelusium (370–440) said by 440 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Christ is not valued at all unless He be valued above all.”
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) said by 430 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Η γαστριμαργία είναι η μητέρα της πορνείας, και ο περιορίζων την κοιλίαν του, δύναται να περιορίσει και την γλώτταν του.”
Κύριλλος Αλεξανδρείας (376–444) said by 444 at the latest wikiquote:el, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sed adhuc supersunt aliae superstitiones, quarum secreta pandenda sunt, ... ut et in istis profanis religionibus sciatis mortes esse hominum consecratas.”
Julius Firmicus Maternus (314–400) said by 400 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: De errore profanarum religionum, ch. 6, sec. 1. Translated by Clarence A. Forbes, The Error of the Pagan Religions (Newman Press, 1970) p. 54. Latin, without translation, in J. G. Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890) vol. 1,…