Isaac of Nineveh famous quotes

03-12-2025

There is love like a small lamp, which goes out when the oil is consumed; or like a stream which dries up when it doesn't rain. But there is a love that is like a mighty spring gushing up out of the earth; it keeps flowing forever, and is inexhaustible.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Spring #Rain #Oil
The man with a heart cannot think about or see creatures without his eyes filling up with tears because of the immense compassion which seizes his heart.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Kindness #Heart #Eye
Be dead in life, and you will not live in death. Let your soul die strenuously, and not live in weakness. Not only those who suffer death for the sake of faith in Christ are martyrs; but also those who die because of their observance of His commandments.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Life #Soul #Suffering
The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Christian #Men #Mourning
If zeal had been appropriate for putting humanity right, why did God the Word clothe himself in the body, using gentleness and humility in order to bring the world back to his Father?
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Father #Humility #Order
Conquer evil people by gentle kindness, and make zealous people wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Kindness #Compassion #People
Solitude is an ocean with wonderful places hidden in its depths.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Ocean #Meditation #Solitude
Someone who bears a grudge while he prays is like a person who sows in the sea and expects to reap a harvest.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Christian #Sea #Bears
Just as a strongly flowing fountain is not blocked up by a handful of earth, so the compassion of the Creator is not overcome by the wickedness of his creatures.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Christian #Compassion #Overcoming
As a handful of sand thrown into the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mind of God.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Christian #Ocean #Mind
Humility collects the soul into a single point by the power of silence. A truly humble man has no desire to be known or admired by others, but wishes to plunge from himself into himself, to become nothing, as if he had never been born. When he is completely hidden to himself in himself, he is completely with God
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Humble #Humility #Men
Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor. Be crucified, rather than be a crucifier. Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly. Be oppressed, rather than be an oppressor. Be gentle rather than zealous. Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Spiritual #Justice #Zealous
Behold, for years and generations, the way of God has been leveled by the cross and by death. How is this with thee, that thou seest the afflictions of the way as if they were out of the way? Doest not thou wish to follow the steps of the saints? Or doest thou wish to go a way which is especially for thee, without suffering? the way unto God is a daily cross. No one can ascend unto heaven with comfort, we know where the way of comfort leads.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Years #Heaven #Suffering
A man who is truly humble is not troubled when he is wronged and he says nothing to justify himself against the injustice, but he accepts slander as truth; he does not attempt to persuade men that he is calumniated, but he begs forgiveness.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Humility #Humble #Men
If you practice an excellent virtue without perceiving the taste of its aid, do not marvel; for until a man becomes humble, he will not receive a reward for his labor. Recompense is given, not for labor, but for humility.
-- Isaac of Nineveh

#Humility #Humble #Men

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