--- title: "Best John Cassian Quotes" description: "John Cassian, also known as John the Ascetic and John Cassian the Roman, was a Christian monk and theologian celebrated in both the Western and Eastern ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-john-cassian-13822.jpg" --- ![Portrait of John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-john-cassian-13822.jpg) # John Cassian (0360–0434) Christian Monk **49** quotes in **528** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet John Cassian was a Christian monk, best known for *De institutis coenobiorum et de octo principalium vitiorum remediis libri XII*. ## Quick Facts About John Cassian Born January 1, 0360 Died November 30, 0434 Profession Christian Monk Notable works De institutis coenobiorum et de octo principalium vitiorum remediis libri XII ## About John Cassian John Cassian, also known as John the Ascetic and John Cassian the Roman,, was a Christian monk and theologian celebrated in both the Western and Eastern churches for his mystical writings. Cassian is noted for his role in bringing the ideas and practices of early Christian monasticism to the medieval West. ## Quotes by John Cassian · Page 2 > [...works of piety and charity... are necessary in this present life for as long as inequality prevails. Their workings here would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/works-of-piety-and-charity-are-necessary-in-this-present-life-for-as/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/john-cassian-13822_charity_works-of-piety-and-charity-are-necessary_2035722.png) > [We are often indifferent to our brethren who are distressed or upset, on the grounds that they are in this state through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren-who-are-distressed-or-upset/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/john-cassian-13822_apology_we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren_816471.jpg) > [... when death has been brought upon a saint, we ought not to think that an evil has happened to him but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/when-death-has-been-brought-upon-a-saint-we-ought-not-to-think-that/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/830/john-cassian-13822_christian_when-death-has-been-brought-upon-a-saint_2977131.png) > [... a Christian is quite certain to fall into the same sins which he condemns in another with merciless and inhuman severity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/a-christian-is-quite-certain-to-fall-into-the-same-sins-which-he/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/john-cassian-13822_certain_a-christian-is-quite-certain-to-fall-int_3108612.png) > [...we must first scrutinize thoroughly anything appearing in our hearts or any saying suggested to us. Has it come purified from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-must-first-scrutinize-thoroughly-anything-appearing-in-our-hearts/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Apostles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostles/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/john-cassian-13822_apostles_we-must-first-scrutinize-thoroughly-anyt_1054020.png) > [If you want to correct your brother when he is doing wrong? you must keep yourself calm; otherwise you yourself may catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/if-you-want-to-correct-your-brother-when-he-is-doing-wrong-you-must/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/john-cassian-13822_brother_if-you-want-to-correct-your-brother-when_1130342.png) > [We must, with God's help, eradicate the deadly poison of the demon of anger from the depths of our souls. So long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-deadly-poison-of-the-demon-of/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/john-cassian-13822_achieve_we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-de_1883278.png) > [It is not our free will but 'it is the Lord who sets the captive free' (Ps. 145:7). It is not our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lord-who-sets-the-captive-free/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Application](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/application/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cassian-13822_application_it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lo_1498321.png) > [No just man suffices unto himself for the winning of justification. The divine mercy must always hold out a hand to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-the-winning-of-justification/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/john-cassian-13822_balance_no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-th_2880183.png) ## John Cassian by topic [Orthodox (32)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/john-cassian/) [Christian (32)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/john-cassian/) [Orthodox christian (26)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/john-cassian/) [Men (14)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/john-cassian/) [Heart (13)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/john-cassian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/#itemlist", "name": "John Cassian Quotes", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "...works of piety and charity... are necessary in this present life for as long as inequality prevails. Their workings here would not be required were it not for the superabundant numbers of the poor, the needy, and the sick... 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The Doctor of souls, however, wishing to root out the soul's excuses from the heart, tells us to leave our gift and to be reconciled not only if we happen to be upset by our brother, but also if he is upset by us, whether justly or unjustly; only when we have healed the breach through our apology should we offer our gift.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassian" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren-who-are-distressed-or-upset/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/john-cassian-13822_apology_we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren_816471.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/john-cassian-13822_apology_we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren_816471.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/john-cassian-13822_apology_we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren_816471.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are often indifferent to our brethren who are distressed or upset, on the grounds that they are in this…” — John Cassian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... when death has been brought upon a saint, we ought not to think that an evil has happened to him but a thing indifferent; which is an evil to a wicked man, while to the good it is rest and freedom from evils. 'For death is rest to a man whose way is hidden' (Job 3:23 LXX). 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Has it come purified from the divine and heavenly fire of the Holy Spirit? Or does it lean toward Jewish superstition? Is its surface piety something which has come down from bloated worldly philosophy? 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So long as he dwells in our hearts and blinds the eyes of the heart with his somber disorders, we can neither discriminate what is for our good, nor achieve spiritual knowledge, nor fulfill our good intentions, nor participate in true life; and our intellect will remain impervious to the contemplation of the true, divine light; for it is written, 'Man's anger does not bring about the righteousness of God' (Jms. 1:20).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassian" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-deadly-poison-of-the-demon-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/john-cassian-13822_achieve_we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-de_1883278.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/john-cassian-13822_achieve_we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-de_1883278.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/john-cassian-13822_achieve_we-must-with-god-s-help-eradicate-the-de_1883278.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must, with God's help, eradicate the deadly poison of the demon of anger from the depths of our souls. So…” — John Cassian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not our free will but 'it is the Lord who sets the captive free' (Ps. 145:7). It is not our own virtue but 'it is the Lord who lifts up those who were laid low' (Ps. 145:8). It is not application to reading but 'it is the Lord who gives light to the blind' (Ps. 145:8). It is not our cautiousness but 'it is the Lord who protects the stranger' (Ps. 145:9). It is not our endurance but 'it is the Lord who raises or gives support to the fallen' (Ps. 144:14).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassian" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lord-who-sets-the-captive-free/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cassian-13822_application_it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lo_1498321.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cassian-13822_application_it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lo_1498321.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cassian-13822_application_it-is-not-our-free-will-but-it-is-the-lo_1498321.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not our free will but 'it is the Lord who sets the captive free' (Ps. 145:7). 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The divine mercy must always hold out a hand to his footsteps as they falter and almost stumble, and this is so because the weakness of his free will may cause him to lose balance, and if he falls he may perish forever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassian" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-the-winning-of-justification/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/john-cassian-13822_balance_no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-th_2880183.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/john-cassian-13822_balance_no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-th_2880183.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/john-cassian-13822_balance_no-just-man-suffices-unto-himself-for-th_2880183.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No just man suffices unto himself for the winning of justification. 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