"117. Let me repeat this saying of mine that I once expressed on some other occasions: Happy is the spirit that attains to the perfect formlessness at the time of prayer."

Evagrius Ponticus Religion See all quotes by Evagrius Ponticus →

React to this quote

More by Evagrius Ponticus

“119. Happy is the spirit that becomes free of all matter and is stripped of all at the time of prayer.”

“97. One of the brethren owned only a book of the Gospels. He sold this and gave the money for the support of the poor. He made a statement that deserves remembrance: "I have sold the very word that speaks to me saying: 'Sell your possessions and give to the poor.'”

“150. Just as sight is the most worthy of the sense, so also is prayer the most divine of the virtues.”

“36. Do you wish to pray? Renounce all things. You then will become heir to all.”

“35. Prayer is an ascent of the spirit to God.”

“118. Happy is the spirit which, praying with distraction, goes on increasing its desire for God.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Exclusive dependence on Persian and Arabic sources, for an account of Muslim invasions, is apt to produce an unbalanced view. The basic prejudices of the Muslim historians, who mostly belonged to the …"

— Ram Gopal

1912–2003

#religion

"In this life mercy and forgiveness is our way and evermore leadeth us to grace. And by the tempest and the sorrow that we fall into on our part, we be often dead as to man’s doom in earth; but in the …"

— Julian of Norwich

Literature

#religion

"There's always 30 or 40 Christians standing around, saying, "It's a shame that he has to die." And Jesus is saying, "Well, maybe I wouldn't have to if somebody would get a ladder and pair of pliers!!"

— Sam Kinison

Entertainment1953–1992

#life

"We should not delude ourselves into thinking that an incomes policy is other than a serious infringement of freedom...Nor have the Liberals explained how it is to be worked, and even if they had, it i…"

— Jo Grimond

Politics1913–1993

#freedom