--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg" --- # Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new… ![“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…” quote by Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg) > “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.” [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abba/) [Abba Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abba-moses-2254855/) [Asked Abba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-abba-2254856/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-moment-2254857/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Heresy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heresy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [New Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-foundation-1619709/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-will/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [What I wanted to do was to try to create a philosophy upon a completely new foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-wilson/what-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-try-to-create-a-philosophy-upon-a/) [Colin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-wilson/) > [Art is about building a new foundation, not just laying something on top of what's already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/art-is-about-building-a-new-foundation-not-just-laying-something-on/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [We need to rebuild our nation with a new foundation. A foundation rooted in love, and care, and equality. Where justice is truly real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/we-need-to-rebuild-our-nation-with-a-new-foundation-a-foundation/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [We began building this incredible new foundation in this restaurant, and that's what began giving me the left-hand side of tradition and the right-hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/we-began-building-this-incredible-new-foundation-in-this-restaurant/) [Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/) > [It's important in our talks with Abbas to hear how women are represented in peace negotiations, how Palestine views the position of women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/it-s-important-in-our-talks-with-abbas-to-hear-how-women-are/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [I believe in God - not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-in-god-not-in-a-catholic-god-there-is-no-catholic-god-there/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Abba and me, we were the 70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/abba-and-me-we-were-the-70s/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [I grew up on Queen, ABBA and at the same time, Nityasree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/i-grew-up-on-queen-abba-and-at-the-same-time-nityasree/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [I was so tired once 'Abba' was over and just wanted to be calm and with my children. I married, was in 'Abba,' had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-was-so-tired-once-abba-was-over-and-just-wanted-to-be-calm-and-with/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [“You seem so far away though you are standing near. You made me feel alive, but something died I fear. I really tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/you-seem-so-far-away-though-you-are-standing-near-you-made-me-feel/) [Björn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [ There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe \[Bob\] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-believe-bob-dylan-himself/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) ## More by Saint John Chrysostom > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus... for the Eucharistic table takes the place of the crib. Here the Body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/if-we-approach-with-faith-we-too-will-see-jesus-for-the-eucharistic/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [The slave should be resigned to his lot, in obeying his master he is obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-slave-should-be-resigned-to-his-lot-in-obeying-his-master-he-is/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Every trace of the old philosophy and literatureof the ancient world has vanished from the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/every-trace-of-the-old-philosophy-and-literatureof-the-ancient-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-the-soul-is-in-the-body-let-christians-be-in-the-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [...there is nothing that has been created without some reason, even if human nature is incapable of knowing precisely the reason for them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/there-is-nothing-that-has-been-created-without-some-reason-even-if/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/as-a-moth-gnaws-a-garment-so-doth-envy-consume-a-man/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What is it to be a fool for Christ? It is to control one's thoughts when they stray out of line. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-is-it-to-be-a-fool-for-christ-it-is-to-control-one-s-thoughts/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/let-us-always-guard-our-tongue-not-that-it-should-always-be-silent/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [It brings comfort to have companions in whatever happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-brings-comfort-to-have-companions-in-whatever-happens/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/i-do-not-think-there-are-many-among-bishops-that-will-be-saved-but/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [When an archer desires to shoot his arrows successfully, he first takes great pains over his posture and aligns himself accurately with his mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/when-an-archer-desires-to-shoot-his-arrows-successfully-he-first/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Whether, therefore, we receive what we ask for, or do not receive it, let us still continue steadfast in prayer. For to fail in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/whether-therefore-we-receive-what-we-ask-for-or-do-not-receive-it-let/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/not-to-share-our-own-wealth-with-the-poor-is-theft-from-the-poor-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Explore all 169 Saint John Chrysostom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## More Abba quotes > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [ There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe \[Bob\] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-believe-bob-dylan-himself/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [“You seem so far away though you are standing near. You made me feel alive, but something died I fear. I really tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/you-seem-so-far-away-though-you-are-standing-near-you-made-me-feel/) [Björn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [I was so tired once 'Abba' was over and just wanted to be calm and with my children. I married, was in 'Abba,' had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-was-so-tired-once-abba-was-over-and-just-wanted-to-be-calm-and-with/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [I grew up on Queen, ABBA and at the same time, Nityasree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/i-grew-up-on-queen-abba-and-at-the-same-time-nityasree/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [Abba and me, we were the 70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/abba-and-me-we-were-the-70s/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [I believe in God - not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-in-god-not-in-a-catholic-god-there-is-no-catholic-god-there/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It's important in our talks with Abbas to hear how women are represented in peace negotiations, how Palestine views the position of women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/it-s-important-in-our-talks-with-abbas-to-hear-how-women-are/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [I promise you, ABBA will never reform - I couldn't bear the stress of disappointing everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/i-promise-you-abba-will-never-reform-i-couldn-t-bear-the-stress-of/) [Bjorn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [The most important thing is that you honor that musical integrity, whether you make music that sounds like ABBA or you make music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-honor-that-musical-integrity/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [Abba's last tour was a success but awful for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/abba-s-last-tour-was-a-success-but-awful-for-me/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [ABBA was a direct influence on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/abba-was-a-direct-influence-on-me/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) [Browse all 75 Abba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abba/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint John Chrysostom" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-person-lay-a-new-foundation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abba" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-person-lay-a-new-foundation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_abba_abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-per_2639330.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied, If you…” — Saint John Chrysostom", "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": "Saint John Chrysostom", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-person-lay-a-new-foundation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/abba-moses-asked-abba-sylvanus-can-a-person-lay-a-new-foundation/#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 } } ] } ```