Isaac the Syrian quotes

Isaac the Syrian was a renowned Christian monk, theologian, and mystic from the region of Mesopotamia. His spiritual writings have profoundly influenced Eastern Christian thought and ascetic practice. He is remembered for his teachings on mercy, humility, and the inner life of prayer. Here are 31 of his quotes:

Love does not know how to be angry.

Isaac the Syrian

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 the Syrian

Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.

Isaac the Syrian

What is a charitable heart? It is a heart which is burning with love for the whole creation, for men, for the birds, for the beasts ... for all creatures. He who has such a heart cannot see or call to mind a creature without his eyes being filled with tears by reason of the immense compassion which seizes his heart; a heart which is softened and can no longer bear to see or learn from others of any suffering, even the smallest pain being inflicted upon a creature. That is why such a man never ceases to pray for the animals ... [He is] ... moved by the infinite pity which reigns in the hearts of those who are becoming united with God.

Isaac the Syrian

If you cannot close the mouth of one who reviles his brother, at least avoid conversation with him.

Isaac the Syrian

Satan's whole concern is to convince man that God does not care about him.

Isaac the Syrian

If God is slow in answering your request, or if you ask but do not promptly receive anything, do not be upset, for you are not wiser than God.

Isaac the Syrian

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 the Syrian

If you aren't a peacemaker at least don't be a troublemaker.

Isaac the Syrian

Whoever hates his sins will stop sinning; and whoever confesses them will receive remission. A man can not abandon the habit of sin if he does not first gain enmity toward sin, nor can he receive remission of sin without confession of sin. For the confession of sin is the cause of true humility.

Isaac the Syrian

In the measure that love for the flesh prevails in you, you can never become brave and dauntless, on account of the host of adversaries that constantly surround the object of your love.

Isaac the Syrian

Let us beware in ourselves, my beloved, and realize that even if Gehenna is subject to a limit, the taste of its experience is most terrible, and the extent of its bounds escapes our very understanding. Let us strive all the more to partake of the taste of God's love for the sake of perpetual reflection on Him, and let us not (have) experience of Gehenna through neglect.

Isaac the Syrian

The Commandments of God are higher than all the treasures of the earth. Whoever has acquired them has received God within himself.

Isaac the Syrian

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 the Syrian

Whoever can weep over himself for one hour is greater than the one who is able to teach the whole world; whoever recognizes the depth of his own frailty is greater than the one who sees visions of angels.

Isaac the Syrian

Love is the fruit of prayer ... Patiently abiding in prayer signifies a man's renunciation of himself. Therefore the self-denial of the soul turns into love for God.

Isaac the Syrian

So then, let us not attribute to God's actions and His dealings with us any idea of requital. Rather, we should speak of fatherly provision, a wise dispensation, a perfect will which is concerned with our good, and complete love. If it is a case of love, then it is not one of requital; and if it is a case of requital, then it is not one of love. Love, when it operates, is not concerned with the requiting of former things by means of its own good deeds or correction; rather, it looks to what is most advantageous in the future: it examines what is to come, and not things that are past.

Isaac the Syrian

True is the word of the Lord which declares that no man possessing love for the world can acquire the love of God, nor can any who has communion with the world have communion with God, nor can any who has concern for the world have concern for God.

Isaac the Syrian

May your divinity, Lord, take pleasure in me and lead me above the world to be with you.

Isaac the Syrian

The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.

Isaac the Syrian

No one can sense his own weakness is at least a small temptation is not allowed to afflict either his body or his soul. Then, comparing his weakness to the help of God, a man comes to know its magnitude. But whoever does not know that he needs God's help, let him make many prayers. Insofar as he multiplies them, in that measure will he be humbled.

Isaac the Syrian

If the heart is not occupied with study, it cannot endure the turbulence of the body's assault.

Isaac the Syrian