On Humility – St. Isaac the Syrian
O n Humility T he iniquitous mouth is stopped during prayer, for the condemnation of the conscience deprives a man of his boldness. A good heart joyously sheds tears in prayer. V oluntary and steadfast endurance of injustice pur ifies the heart. P atient endurance of injustice springs from disdain for the world; and a man endures calumny cheerfully because his heart has begun to behold the truth. J oy arising from voluntary endurance of calumny and injustice exalts the heart. T hey for whom the world is dead submit to contumelies with joy. B ut they for whom the world still lives cannot submit to injustice: either, moved by vainglory, they are provoked to anger and are troubled, being stirred up in the manner of brutes, or else they are overcome by grief. O how di...