Considering that you will find God's love in consolation feelings, you aren't seeking God,but yourself,your own consolation, and you go round the true way of suffering that leeds to Him, because you feel lost without this consolation. (Macarie of Optina)

God foretold that He would forgive our sins if we seek forgiveness, but not that we would live tomorrow (Varsanufie of Optina)

The shortest way to Jesus is to carry the other's one burden (Ambrozie of Optina)


The human constience is like an alarm clock. If it rings, you wake up suddenly, knowing that you have to go and do your work, and after, you will hear it always. But if you do not wake up, several days, sayng that you will do so later, then you will stop hearing the alarm clock. (Iosif of Optina)