Abba Quote by Saint John Chrysostom
“Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied, If you work hard, you can lay a new foundation every moment. Abba Pimen said, To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul. The desire to rule is the mother of heresies.”
About This Quote
Source Homily: On the Spiritual Life, 4th century
Continuous effort builds a new spiritual foundation; humility and surrender are essential.
In simple terms: Work hard, stay humble, trust God.
Key Takeaway
Practice daily humility and effort.
Themes
spirituality
discipline
humility
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
religious
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- community service
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you measure inner progress?
- What does surrender look like daily?
A Different Perspective
Hard work alone may not guarantee spiritual growth.
![“There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe [Bob] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself as a more profound and worthy recipient than, for instance, any of the brilliant Motown or girl-group lyricists who are more likely to be awarded a Nobel prize for…” quote by David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4bb/david-bennun-25818_abba_there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-beli_130714.jpg)
