Basil of Caesarea quotes - page 5

We often find comfort in telling what is painful in actual experience. (Basil of Caesarea)
We should not think that we achieve success in preaching through our own devices, but we should rely entirely on God. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
If one had taken what is necessary to cover one's needs and had left the rest to those who are in need, no one would be rich, no one would be poor, no one would be in need. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
When a sunbeam falls on a transparent substance, the substance itself becomes brilliant, and radiates light from itself. So too Spirit bearing souls, illumined by Him, finally become spiritual themselves, and their grace is sent forth to others. From this comes knowledge of the future, understanding of mysteries, apprehension of hidden things, distribution of wonderful gifts, heavenly citizenship, a place in the choir of angels, endless joy in the presence of God, becoming like God, and, the highest of all desires, becoming God. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
The Christian ought not to say anything behind his brother's back with the object of calumniating him, for this is slander, even if what is said is true. He ought to turn away from the brother who speaks evil against him? View quote
Basil of Caesarea
I reckon silence more profitable than speech, for? in the words of the Preacher, 'The words of wise men are heard in quiet' (Eccles. 9:17). View quote
Basil of Caesarea
If, therefore, there is any grace in the water, it is not from the nature of water but from the Spirit's presence there. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
If everyone would take only according to his needs and would leave the surplus to the needy, no one would be rich, no one poor, no one in misery. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
No Christian ought to think of himself as his own master, but each should rather so think and act as though given by God to be slave to his like minded brethren (cf. I Cor. 9:19)? View quote
Basil of Caesarea
When our Lord says, 'I have not spoken of Myself' (Jn. 12:49), and again, 'As the Father said to Me, so I speak' (Jn. 12:50), and 'The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's Who sent Me' (Jn. 14:24), and in another place, 'As the Father commanded Me, even so I do' (Jn. 14:31), it is not because He lacks deliberate purpose or power of initiative, nor yet because He has to wait for the preconcerted key-note, that He employs language of this kind. His object is to make it plain that His own will is connected in indissoluble union with the Father. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
We should even go beyond doing what is required in order to avoid scandal. (Basil of Caesarea)
She who has intentionally destroyed [the fetus] is subject to the penalty corresponding to a homicide. For us, there is no scrutinizing between the formed and unformed [fetus]; here truly justice is made not only for the unborn but also with reference to the person who is attentive only to himself/herself since so many women generally die for this very reason. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Let sleep itself be an exercise in piety, for such as our life and conduct have been, so also of necessity will be our dreams. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Liberated from the error of pagan tradition through the benevolence and loving kindness of the good God with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the operation of the Holy Spirit, I was reared from the very beginning by Christian parents. From them I learned even in babyhood the Holy Scriptures which led me to a knowledge of the truth. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Those who love their neighbor as themselves possess nothing more than their neighbor. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
What, then, shall we do? someone may ask. What else, indeed, than devote ourselves to the care of our souls, keeping all our leisure free from other things. Accordingly, we should not be slaves of the body, except so far as is strictly necessary; but our souls we should supply with all things that are best, through philosophy freeing them, as from a prison, from association with the passions of the body. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Let one hour, the same regularly each day, be set aside for food, so that out of the twenty-four hours of day and night, barely shall this one be expended on the body, the ascetic devoting the remainder to the activities of the mind. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
You must give heed unto virtue, O men, which swims forth even with a man who has suffered shipwreck, and, on his coming naked to land, will render him more honoured than the happy Phaeacians. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Some device has been concocted by the devil, suggesting innumerable spending opportunities to the wealthy, so that they pursue unnecessary and worthless things as if they were indispensable, and no amount is sufficient for the expenditures they contrive. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Nothing withstands the influence of wealth. Everything submits to its tyranny, everything cowers at its dominion. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
You begrudge your fellow human beings what you yourself enjoy; taking wicked counsel in your soul, you consider not how you might distribute to others according to their needs, but rather how, after having received so many good things, you might rob others. (Basil of Caesarea)
Indulging in unrestrained and immoderate laughter is a sign of intemperance, of a want of control over one's emotions, and of failure to repress the soul's frivolity by a stern use of reason. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
All who call the Holy Ghost a creature we pity, on the ground that, by this utterance, they are falling into the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against Him. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Good masters teach good doctrine, but that taught by evil masters is wholly evil. View quote
Basil of Caesarea
Among irrational animals the love of the offspring and of the parents for each other is extraordinary because God, who created them, compensated for the deficiency of reason by the superiority of their senses. View quote
Basil of Caesarea

Basil of Caesarea

Basil of Caesarea - Image
Occupation: Greek Saint
Born: 329
Died: 379
Quotes count: 137
Wikipedia: Basil of Caesarea

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