Prayer is by nature a dialog and a union with God. Its effect is to hold the world together. It achieves a reconciliation with God.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 274, 6th century


'God is love' (I John 4:16). But someone eager to define this is blindly striving to measure the sand in the ocean.
-St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 30: On Faith, Hope and Love; Paulist Press pg. 286, 6th Century


Nothing equals the mercy of God or surpasses it. To despair is therefore to inflict death on oneself.
-St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 130, 6th century


No one should plead inability to do what is asked of us in the gospels, since there are souls who have accomplished far more than is commanded.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 26:On Discernment; Paulist Press pg. 231, 6th century


Repentance lifts a man up. Mourning knocks at heaven's gate. Holy humility opens it. This I say, and I worship a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 25:On Humility; Paulist Press pg. 221, 6th century


Remembrance of wrongs comes as the final point of anger. It is a keeper of sins. It hates a just way of life. It is the ruin of virtues, the poison of the soul, a worm in the mind. It is the shame of prayer, a cutting off of supplication, a turning away from love, a nail piercing the soul. It is a pleasureless feeling cherished in the sweetness of bitterness. It is a never-ending sin, an unsleeping wrong, rancor by the hour.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 9:On Malice; Paulist Press pg. 152, 6th century


Love of money is the worship of idols, a daughter of unbelief, an excuse for infirmities, a foreboder of old age, a harbinger of drought, a herald of hunger.
-St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 16:2,7 and Step 17:1, 6th Century


Patience is a labor that does not crush the soul. It never wavers under interruptions, good or bad...Patience sets a boundary to the daily onslaught of suffering...Patience comes from hope and mourning, and indeed to lack those is to be a slave of despondency.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 27: On Stillness; Paulist Press pg.271, 6th century


Talkative prayer frequently distracts the mind and deludes it, whereas brevity makes for concentration.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 275, 6th century


The hour of prayer is no time for thinking over necessities, nor even spiritual tasks, because you may lose the better part (cf. Luke 10:42).
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 281, 6th century


The man who wishes to offer a pure mind to God but who is troubled by cares is like a man who expects to walk quickly even though his legs are tied together.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 27: On Stillness; Paulist Press pg.269, 6th century


The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him.
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 11:On Talkativeness and Silence; Paulist Press pg. 159, 6th century


When you are depressed, bear in mind the Lord's command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven (cf. Matt. 18:22). And you may be sure that He Who gave this command to another will Himself do very much more. But if, on the other hand, we become too self-assured, let us remember what has been said about the person who keeps the whole spiritual law and yet, having slipped into one passion, that of pride, is guilty of all (cf. James 2:10).
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 26: On Discernment; Paulist Press pg. 250, 6th century