Just as wood is the cause of the flame of the fire and if you don’t feed it
enough, the fire goes out, so are some of the causes of the passions. So, if
you cut off the causes, the passions don’t act. As for example, the causes of
fornication, as Abba Moses said, are excessive eating and drinking, sleeping
too much, being idle, gambling, gossiping, loitering, and pursuing fine
clothing. These things, if you cut them out, weaken the passion of fornication.
The causes of wrath again in like manner, he said, are dealing and doing a lot
of businesses, wanting to do your will, wanting to be a master, and thinking
that you are wise. Those things, if you cut them out, the passion fades.
Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
