It is better to err by excess of mercy than by excess of severity. . .Wilt thou become a Saint? Be severe to thyself but kind to others.
Interpretation
It is more beneficial to show mercy towards others than to be overly strict or severe. One should maintain a balance by being hard on oneself while showing kindness to others.
This quote emphasizes the importance of mercy and compassion over harshness and strictness when dealing with others. Saint John Chrysostom suggests that while one should hold oneself to high standards and be stringent with personal conduct, it is equally important to treat others with kindness and understanding, as this approach leads to a more harmonious and just society.
In practice
During a leadership seminar about managing difficult situations.
No one has ever been accused for not providing ornaments, but for those who neglect their neighbour a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire and torment in the company of the demons. Do not, therefore, adorn the church and ignore your afflicted brother, for he is the most precious temple of all.
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.
When we teach our children to be good, to be gentle, to be forgiving (all these are attributes of God), to be generous, to love their follow men, to regard this present age as nothing, we instill virtue in their souls, and reveal the image of God within them.
Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied, If you work hard, you can lay a new foundation every moment. Abba Pimen said, To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul. The desire to rule is the mother of heresies.
I hear no one boast, that he hath a knowledge of the Scriptures, but that he owneth a Bible written in golden characters. And tell me then, what profiteth this? The Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.
Prayer should be the means by which I, at all times, receive all that I need, and, for this reason, be my daily refuge, my daily consolation, my daily joy, my source of rich and inexhaustible joy in life.
That which is used - develops. That which is not used wastes away.
Victory puts us on a level with heaven.
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
Much as we wish, not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours, and it will not be ours for long, and once it is gone it will never in all time be ours again. Thou only knowest what it holds in store for us, yet even we know something of what it will hold. The chance to speak the truth, to show mercy, to ease anotherβs burden. The chance to resist evil, to remember all the good times and good people of our past, to be brave, to be strong, to be glad.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.
If you would stop, really stop, damning yourself, others, and unkind conditions, you would find it almost impossible to upset yourself emotionally - about anything. Yes, anything.
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