...when in paradise we fell away from the divine commandment and the blessed and godly way of life, and were brought down as far as Hades, many evils resulted. Not only did the ground yield visible thorns and thistles in accordance with the curse upon our Forefather, but we, to an even greater extent, were sown with the thorns of all sorts of evil passions and with sin's dreadful thistles.
-St. Gregory Palamas, The Homilies, Homily Fourteen para. 3; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 158, Fourteenth Century


One must offer to God the passionate part of the soul, alive and active, that it may be a living sacrifice.
-St. Gregory Palamas, The Triads C. II. ii. 20, pg. 55 Paulist Press edition, 14th century


'The Lord your God is one Lord' (cf. Deut. 6:4), revealed in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: in the unbegotten Father; in the Son, who is begotten eternally, timelessly and impassibly as the Logos, and who through Himself anointed that which He assumed from us and so is called Christ; and in the Holy Spirit, who also comes forth from the Father, not begotten, but proceeding. This alone is God and alone is true God, the one Lord in a Trinity of Hypostases, undivided in nature, will, glory, power, energy, and all the characteristics of divinity. Him alone shall you love and Him alone shall you worship with all your mind and with all your heart and with all your strength.
-St. Gregory Palamas, A New Testament Decalogue no. 1, Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 323, 14th century


...each person can only acquire an infinitely small share of this world. What a disaster, then, if someone loses his soul in his efforts to acquire this tiny share, rather than choosing to take up the sign and word of the Cross and to follow the Giver of life.
-St. Gregory Palamas, The Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Eleven para. 19; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 127, 14th century


Why does humility lead up to the heights of righteousness, whereas self-conceit leads down to the depths of sin? Because anybody who thinks he is something great, even before God, is rightly abandoned by God, as one who thinks that he does not need His help. Anybody who despises himself, on the other hand, and relies on mercy from above, wins God's sympathy, help and grace. As it says, 'The Lord resisteth the proud: but He giveth grace unto the lowly' (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6).
-St. Gregory Palamas, Homilies Vol. 1, Homily 2 para. 3; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 10, 14th century