--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wherefore a monk's whole attention should…" description: "\"Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his thoughts be vigorously restricted to it; viz.,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png" --- # Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on… ![“Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his thoughts be vigorously restricted to it; viz., to the recollection of God, as when a man, who is anxious to raise on high a vault of a round arch, must constantly draw a line round from its…” quote by John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png) > “Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his thoughts be vigorously restricted to it; viz., to the recollection of God, as when a man, who is anxious to raise on high a vault of a round arch, must constantly draw a line round from its exact centre, and in accordance with the sure standard it gives discover by the laws of building all the evenness and roundness required.” [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus singularly on God, like an architect using a central point to ensure perfect shape. **In simple terms:** Concentrate on God alone. Key Takeaway Keep thoughts centered on God. Themes spirituality focus discipline Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual instructional When to use this quote - prayer - daily meditation - spiritual direction - retreats Key Concepts monastic practice meditation theology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance single‑point focus with daily duties? - What practices help maintain this focus? A Different Perspective May neglect other responsibilities or relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Arches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arches/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Centre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centre/) [Centre Accordance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centre-accordance-5617401/) [Circle Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-thoughts-1706526/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Evenness Roundness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evenness-roundness-5617402/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Monk Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk-attention-5617399/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Recollection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recollection/) [Recollection God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recollection-god-5617400/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Vaults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vaults/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“But you will never realize that an incident which filled but a degree in the circle of your thoughts covered the whole circumference of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/but-you-will-never-realize-that-an-incident-which-filled-but-a-degree/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Every few years something new breaks into the circle of my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/every-few-years-something-new-breaks-into-the-circle-of-my-thoughts/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Each of us is born brilliant. Then we spend the rest of our lives having our brilliance buried by people, circumstances, and experiences. Eventually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-t-bailey/each-of-us-is-born-brilliant-then-we-spend-the-rest-of-our-lives/) [Simon T. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-t-bailey/) > [The world, and whatever that be which we call the heavens, by the vault of which all things are enclosed, we must conceive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-world-and-whatever-that-be-which-we-call-the-heavens-by-the-vault/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [For a long time, I would write without music, because I thought it was distracting until I appreciated that it actually unlocks a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/for-a-long-time-i-would-write-without-music-because-i-thought-it-was/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Don't pole-vault over mouse turds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/don-t-pole-vault-over-mouse-turds/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A good 80 percent of the vault is still physical and another percentage of it, 20, 25 percent is mental. Mental is always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-karolyi/a-good-80-percent-of-the-vault-is-still-physical-and-another/) [Bela Karolyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-karolyi/) > [In a moment, we hope to see the pole vault over the satellite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/in-a-moment-we-hope-to-see-the-pole-vault-over-the-satellite/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [My wife has them all in a vault... a copy of every album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-goldsmith/my-wife-has-them-all-in-a-vault-a-copy-of-every-album/) [Jerry Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-goldsmith/) > [I taught myself how to pole vault in one day. The next day I entered a meet to pole vault and won it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-taught-myself-how-to-pole-vault-in-one-day-the-next-day-i-entered-a/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mars tugs at the human imagination like no other planet. With a force mightier than gravity, it attracts the eye to its shimmering red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble-wilford/mars-tugs-at-the-human-imagination-like-no-other-planet-with-a-force/) [John Noble Wilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-noble-wilford/) > [Ignorance seldom vaults into knowledge...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/ignorance-seldom-vaults-into-knowledge/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [ p.61 He \[Roark\] was usually disliked, from the first sight of his face, anywhere he went. His face was closed like the door of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/p-61-he-roark-was-usually-disliked-from-the-first-sight-of-his-face/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It is moonlight. Alone in the silence I ascend my stairs once more, While waves remote in pale blue starlight Crash on a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/it-is-moonlight-alone-in-the-silence-i-ascend-my-stairs-once-more/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) ## More by John Cassian > [...just as the edifice of all the virtues strives upward toward perfect prayer so will all these virtues be neither sturdy nor enduring unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/just-as-the-edifice-of-all-the-virtues-strives-upward-toward-perfect/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [ ...the souls of the dead \[are\] not deprived of their intellectual faculties but... they also are not lacking in feelings such as hope and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/the-souls-of-the-dead-are-not-deprived-of-their-intellectual/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [...we should realize that there are three sources for our thoughts - God, the devil, and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-should-realize-that-there-are-three-sources-for-our-thoughts-god/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [In proportion as the ardor of divine love brings you nearer to God, so will a larger concourse of saintly brethren flock to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/in-proportion-as-the-ardor-of-divine-love-brings-you-nearer-to-god-so/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of... purity of heart... we must practice the reading of the Scripture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/everything-we-do-our-every-objective-must-be-undertaken-for-the-sake/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [When we say 'hallowed be Your name' to God what we are really saying is 'Father, make us such as deserve knowledge and understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/when-we-say-hallowed-be-your-name-to-god-what-we-are-really-saying-is/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [When the soul is solidly rooted in... peacefulness, when it is freed of the bonds of every carnal urge, when the unshaking thrust of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/when-the-soul-is-solidly-rooted-in-peacefulness-when-it-is-freed-of/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [We are often indifferent to our brethren who are distressed or upset, on the grounds that they are in this state through no fault…](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/) > [The apostles were very sure that everything of theirs which had to do with salvation was a gift to them from God. 'Increase our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/the-apostles-were-very-sure-that-everything-of-theirs-which-had-to-do/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [...we must first scrutinize thoroughly anything appearing in our hearts or any saying suggested to us. Has it come purified from the divine and…](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/) > [“It is not an external enemy we dread. Our foe is shut up within ourselves. An internal warfare is daily waged by us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/it-is-not-an-external-enemy-we-dread-our-foe-is-shut-up-within/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [If you want to correct your brother when he is doing wrong? you must keep yourself calm; otherwise you yourself may catch the sickness…](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/) > [The thief who received the kingdom of heaven, though not as the reward of virtue, is a true witness to the fact that salvation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/the-thief-who-received-the-kingdom-of-heaven-though-not-as-the-reward/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [...whoever is guided solely by his own judgment and decision will never climb up to the summit of perfection and will not fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/whoever-is-guided-solely-by-his-own-judgment-and-decision-will-never/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [All of our holy fathers knew this and all with one accord teach that perfection in holiness can be achieved only through humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/all-of-our-holy-fathers-knew-this-and-all-with-one-accord-teach-that/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) [Explore all 49 John Cassian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) ## More Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm a very anxious, nervy kind of loser in many ways, and I get very stressed and a little tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/i-m-a-very-anxious-nervy-kind-of-loser-in-many-ways-and-i-get-very/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-anxious-to-be-the-loudest-voice-or-the-most-popular-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You simply can't be tentative in a startup. You have to go for it at every chance you get. And if the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/you-simply-can-t-be-tentative-in-a-startup-you-have-to-go-for-it-at/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-don-t-understand-why-gay-people-are-so-anxious-to-get-married/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) [Browse all 1,159 Anxious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his thoughts be vigorously restricted to it; viz., to the recollection of God, as when a man, who is anxious to raise on high a vault of a round arch, must constantly draw a line round from its exact centre, and in accordance with the sure standard it gives discover by the laws of building all the evenness and roundness required.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-should-thus-be-fixed-on-one-point/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-should-thus-be-fixed-on-one-point/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/john-cassian-13822_anxious_wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-shoul_1520300.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wherefore a monk's whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his…” — John Cassian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Cassian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wherefore a monk's whole attention should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-should-thus-be-fixed-on-one-point/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/wherefore-a-monk-s-whole-attention-should-thus-be-fixed-on-one-point/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```