View source for Maxims of Evagrius

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| name              = Maxims
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| author            = Evagrius Ponticus
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| language          = Greek
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| subject           = Christianity
| genre             = Wisdom literature
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The '''Maxims of Evagrius Ponticus''' are found at the end of ''Thirty-Three Chapters'', in Mss. Protaton 26 and Lavra Γ 93, among others.<ref>Evagrius. ''Evagrius of Pontus: The Greek Ascetic Corpus''. Translated by Robert E. Sinkewicz, (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2003). pp. 228-232.</ref>

==Maxims 1==
#The beginning of salvation is condemnation of yourself.
#Better to throw a stone at random than a word.
#Be to all as you wish all (to be to you).
#Practise righteousness more in deed than in word.
#It is not the one who shows mercy to many who is pious, but the one who wrongs no one.
#Better to live lying on a bed of straw and be without fear than to have a bed of gold and be troubled.
#Pleasant among friends is that person who nourishes his own soul.
#Revere God in deeds, praise him in word, and honour him in thought.
#Prudence, a way of life, and nobility make a priest.
#It is the worst thing to be a slave to the shameful passions.
#Teach virtue in word, but proclaim it in deed.
#Consider not the possession of virtue to be a good thing, but (to practise it) as required.
#In honouring the law you shall live according to the law.
#A foreigner is one for whom the things of the world are foreign.
#One who is jealous does harm to himself, for in speaking evil of another he comes to suffer evil at his own hand.
#Neither flatter nor irritate a rich person.
#Wine strengthens the body, the word of God the soul.
#Use not foods that are pleasant but those that are beneficial.
#In trying to please the crowds, you shall become like the crowds.
#Abuse the body beyond all (else).
#Industrious is that person who has time to spare.
#Accept not the outward appearance of a Christian man, but rather the attitude of soul.
#To accuse one who is blameless is a sin against God.
#Great is the danger of the ears and the tongue.

==Maxims 2==
#It is absurd for one who pursues honours to escape the labours through which honours (are attained).
#You want to know God? First know yourself.
#Genuine among friends is the one who shares your circumstances.
#It is strange to think big while doing little.
#Always thinking is an impediment to knowledge.
#The demon is the guide to the irrational life.
#Nobility of soul is manifested in one's moral vigour.
#God-fearing is that person who speaks not of himself.
#A person not open to blame is a temple of God.
#The worst sort of possession is a disreputable life.
#Say what you should, when you should, and you will not hear what you should not.
#The greatest possession is a friend without fault.
#A disposition attached to esteem is a sickness of the soul.
#A stranger and a poor man is God's eye medication.
#One who welcomes them will quickly recover his sight (cf. Rev. 3:18).
#It is good to show beneficence to all, but more so to those unable to return the favour.
#An orator of justice is a cup of cold water (cf. Matt. 10:42).
#The cherubim—chastity and gentleness of soul (cf. Exod. 25:18-22).
#Being honoured in old age is proof of one's industriousness prior to old age; earnestness in youth is a guarantee that one will be honoured in old age.
#True contemplation is the higher function of the soul.
#If you love what you should not, you will not love what you should.
#Better to possess unrefined gold than a friend.
#A pure soul is God after God.
#O what proceeds from a self-love that hates all!

==Maxims 3==
#The beginning of charity is the presumption of esteem.
#It is good to grow rich in gentleness and charity.
#The arrogant thought is a winnower of virtue.
#A road is made smooth by mercy.
#A sullied conscience is an unjust judge.
#It is a terrible thing to become a slave to the passions of the flesh.
#If you wish to be free of sadness, be zealous in pleasing God.
#He who shows goodly consideration for himself receives consideration from God.
#A chaste heart is a haven for contemplations.
#When you want to know yourself as to who you are, do not compare who you were, but what you have become from the beginning.
#A pond without water is the soul that loves esteem.
#An arrogant soul is a catch-all for thieves, but it hates the sound of knowledge.
#For a true man it is a bad error not to know the scriptures.
#If you fear God, know it by your tears.
#Humility of soul is an indestructible weapon.
#A man who loves virtue is a tree of paradise.
#Jesus Christ is the tree of life (cf. Prov. 3:18); resort to him as you should and you will never die.
#Show beneficence to the truly poor and you will eat Christ.
#True strength is to eat the body of Christ.
#If you love Christ, you will not forget to keep his commandments (cf. John 14:15).
#For thence is made manifest the one who is a benefactor after God.
#A friend according to God flows with milk and honey (cf. Exod. 3:8, Num. 13:27, etc.) in his true words.
#But the lazy soul will not have such a one as a friend.
#The thought that loves pleasure is a harsh master.
#To silence the truth is to bury gold.
#One who fears God does all things according to God.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Desert Fathers]]
[[Category:Asceticism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Books]]