Maxims of Evagrius
From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki
| Author | Evagrius Ponticus |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Language | Greek |
| Subject | Christianity |
| Genre | Wisdom literature |
| Pages |
The Maxims of Evagrius Ponticus are found at the end of Thirty-Three Chapters, in Mss. Protaton 26 and Lavra Γ 93, among others.[1]
Maxims 1[edit]
- The beginning of salvation is condemnation of yourself.
- Better to throw a stone at random than a word.
- Be to all as you wish all (to be to you).
- Practise righteousness more in deed than in word.
- It is not the one who shows mercy to many who is pious, but the one who wrongs no one.
- Better to live lying on a bed of straw and be without fear than to have a bed of gold and be troubled.
- Pleasant among friends is that person who nourishes his own soul.
- Revere God in deeds, praise him in word, and honour him in thought.
- Prudence, a way of life, and nobility make a priest.
- It is the worst thing to be a slave to the shameful passions.
- Teach virtue in word, but proclaim it in deed.
- Consider not the possession of virtue to be a good thing, but (to practise it) as required.
- In honouring the law you shall live according to the law.
- A foreigner is one for whom the things of the world are foreign.
- One who is jealous does harm to himself, for in speaking evil of another he comes to suffer evil at his own hand.
- Neither flatter nor irritate a rich person.
- Wine strengthens the body, the word of God the soul.
- Use not foods that are pleasant but those that are beneficial.
- In trying to please the crowds, you shall become like the crowds.
- Abuse the body beyond all (else).
- Industrious is that person who has time to spare.
- Accept not the outward appearance of a Christian man, but rather the attitude of soul.
- To accuse one who is blameless is a sin against God.
- Great is the danger of the ears and the tongue.
Maxims 2[edit]
- It is absurd for one who pursues honours to escape the labours through which honours (are attained).
- You want to know God? First know yourself.
- Genuine among friends is the one who shares your circumstances.
- It is strange to think big while doing little.
- Always thinking is an impediment to knowledge.
- The demon is the guide to the irrational life.
- Nobility of soul is manifested in one's moral vigour.
- God-fearing is that person who speaks not of himself.
- A person not open to blame is a temple of God.
- The worst sort of possession is a disreputable life.
- Say what you should, when you should, and you will not hear what you should not.
- The greatest possession is a friend without fault.
- A disposition attached to esteem is a sickness of the soul.
- A stranger and a poor man is God's eye medication.
- One who welcomes them will quickly recover his sight (cf. Rev. 3:18).
- It is good to show beneficence to all, but more so to those unable to return the favour.
- An orator of justice is a cup of cold water (cf. Matt. 10:42).
- The cherubim—chastity and gentleness of soul (cf. Exod. 25:18-22).
- Being honoured in old age is proof of one's industriousness prior to old age; earnestness in youth is a guarantee that one will be honoured in old age.
- True contemplation is the higher function of the soul.
- If you love what you should not, you will not love what you should.
- Better to possess unrefined gold than a friend.
- A pure soul is God after God.
- O what proceeds from a self-love that hates all!
Maxims 3[edit]
- The beginning of charity is the presumption of esteem.
- It is good to grow rich in gentleness and charity.
- The arrogant thought is a winnower of virtue.
- A road is made smooth by mercy.
- A sullied conscience is an unjust judge.
- It is a terrible thing to become a slave to the passions of the flesh.
- If you wish to be free of sadness, be zealous in pleasing God.
- He who shows goodly consideration for himself receives consideration from God.
- A chaste heart is a haven for contemplations.
- When you want to know yourself as to who you are, do not compare who you were, but what you have become from the beginning.
- A pond without water is the soul that loves esteem.
- An arrogant soul is a catch-all for thieves, but it hates the sound of knowledge.
- For a true man it is a bad error not to know the scriptures.
- If you fear God, know it by your tears.
- Humility of soul is an indestructible weapon.
- A man who loves virtue is a tree of paradise.
- Jesus Christ is the tree of life (cf. Prov. 3:18); resort to him as you should and you will never die.
- Show beneficence to the truly poor and you will eat Christ.
- True strength is to eat the body of Christ.
- If you love Christ, you will not forget to keep his commandments (cf. John 14:15).
- For thence is made manifest the one who is a benefactor after God.
- A friend according to God flows with milk and honey (cf. Exod. 3:8, Num. 13:27, etc.) in his true words.
- But the lazy soul will not have such a one as a friend.
- The thought that loves pleasure is a harsh master.
- To silence the truth is to bury gold.
- One who fears God does all things according to God.
References[edit]
- ↑ Evagrius. Evagrius of Pontus: The Greek Ascetic Corpus. Translated by Robert E. Sinkewicz, (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2003). pp. 228-232.
