Attachment Quote by Maximus the Confessor
“Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So he who loves God cultivates pure prayer, driving out every passion that keeps him from it. He who drives out self-love, the mother of the passions, will with God's help easily rid himself of the rest, such as anger, irritation, rancor and so on. But he who is dominated by self-love is overpowered by the other passions, even against his will. Self-love is the passion of attachment to the body.”
About This Quote
Clinging to what we love makes us reject anything that threatens it; overcoming self‑love frees us from passions like anger and irritation.
In simple terms: Love creates attachment that blocks spiritual growth; letting go reduces negative emotions.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate pure prayer and release self‑love to diminish harmful passions.
Themes
spirituality
attachment
self‑control
Mood
reflective
serene
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- religious practice
- personal meditation
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
self‑love
passion
prayer
Questions to Reflect On
- What attachments keep you from spiritual growth?
- How can you practice letting go of self‑love?
A Different Perspective
Self‑love can be hard to recognize and may be socially reinforced.
