Poemen Quotes & Sayings

There is no greater love than that a man lays down his life for his neighbor. When you hear someone complaining and you struggle with yourself and do not answer him back with complaints; when you are hurt and bear it patiently, not looking for revenge; then you are laying down your life for your neighbor. — Poemen

If a monk can overcome two things, he can become free from the world. Bodily ease and vain-glory. — Poemen

If you think little about yourself, you will have rest wherever you reside. — Poemen

God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits of passion, jealousy, hatred and slandering the brethren; in short, everything that is characteristic of the old man. — Poemen

If a man sins and denies it, saying, 'I have not sinned,' do not correct him, or you will destroy any intention he might have of changing. If you say, 'Do not be cast down, my brother, but be careful about that in the future,' you will move his heart to repent. — Poemen

Whenever we cover our brother's sin, God will cover ours; whenever we tell people about our brother's guilt, God will do the same about ours. — Poemen

Will not God, who has commanded men to act thus, do as much himself and even more? For God commanded Peter to forgive till seventy times seven. — Poemen

The beginning of evil is heedlessness. — Poemen

Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart. — Poemen

As far as you can, do some manual work so as to be able to give alms, for it is written that alms and faith purify from sin. — Poemen

Now, there was an anchorite called Timothy in a coenobium. The abbot, having heard of a brother who was being tempted, asked Timothy about him, and the anchorite advised him to drive the brother away. Then when he had been driven away, the brother's temptation fell upon Timothy to the point where he was in danger. Then Timothy stood up before God and said, "I have sinned. Forgive me." Then a voice came which said to him, "Timothy, the only reason I have done this to you is because you despised your brother in the time of his temptation." — Poemen

An old man said, We are not condemned because of our thoughts that enter us, but because we use our thoughts badly; our thoughts can cause us either to suffer shipwreck or to be crowned. — Poemen

Teach the mouth to say what you have in your heart. — Poemen

'Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends' (Jn. 15:13). In truth if someone hears an evil saying, that is, one which harms him, and in his turn, he wants to repeat it, he must fight in order not to say it. Or if someone is taken advantage of and he bears it, without retaliation at all, then he is giving his life for his neighbor. — Poemen