The thought of death is the most necessary of all works ... He who hourly yields himself to it is a saint- insensibility of heart dulls the mind, and abundance of food dries the fountains of tears ...
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century


Just as the Fathers lay down that perfect love knows no sin, so I for my part declare that a perfect sense of death is free from fear ... The remembrance of death, like all other blessings, is a gift of God- He who has died to all things remembers death ...
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century