"What is the Best Teacher?" Wise Words from a Monk on Mt. Athos

The words of Monk Simeon of Athos.

Wisdom.

Which teacher is the best? Suffering.
Which teacher is the worst? Pleasure.
What is the most rare skill? Ability to give.
What is the best skill? The ability to forgive.
What is the most difficult skill? The ability to keep quiet.
What is the most important skill? The ability to ask.
What is the right skill? -The ability to listen.
What is the most dangerous fight? Fanatical.
What is the most harmful habit? Talkativeness.
Which person is the strongest? He who is capable of comprehending the truth.
Which person is the weakest? He who considers himself the strongest.
What kind of person is the most sensible? He who watches his heart.
What is the most dangerous attachment? Attachment to your body.
Which man is the poorest? The one who loves money most.
Which man is closer to God? Merciful.
Which person is the weakest? The winner of others.
Which person is the strongest? The winner of himself.
What to resist trouble? With joy.
How to withstand suffering? With patience.
What is the sign of a healthy soul? Faith.
What is the symptom of a sick soul? Hopelessness.
What is the sign of wrong actions? Irritation.
What is the sign of good deeds? The world of the soul.