"Who stands firm? Only the one for whom the final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice (Latin: an act of worship) all these, when in faith and sole allegiance to God he is called to obedient and responsible action: the responsible person, whose life will be nothing but an answer to God's question and call." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison “The world says: 'You have needs — satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more.' This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov "One of the elders persevered in a fast of seventy weeks, eating only once a week. This elder asked God to reveal to him the meaning of a certain Scripture text, but God would not reveal it to him. So he said to himself: 'Look at all the work I have done without getting anywhere! I will go to one of the brothers and ask him.' When he had gone out and was starting on his way an angel of the Lord was sent to him, saying: 'The seventy weeks you fasted did not bring you any closer to God, but now that you have humbled yourself and set out to ask your brother, I am sent to reveal the meaning of that text.' And he opened to him the meaning which he sought.” Thomas Merton, Sayings of the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century
