The Great Work Of Man

Εἶπεν ὁ ἀββᾰς ᾽Αντώνιος τῷ ἀββᾷ Ποιμενι, ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μεγάλη ἐργασια τοῦ ἀνθρωπου, ἴνα τὸ σφάλμα ἑαυτοῦ ἐπάνω ἑαυτοῦ βαλῃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, και προσδοκήσῃ πειρασμον ἓως ἐσχάτης ἀναπνοῆς.  ᾽Αποφθεγματα των ἀγιων γεροντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.77

Father Anthony said to Father Poemen, 'This is the great work of man, that he takes his faults on himself in the presence of God and expects trials until the last breath.' Sayings of the Fathers, Palladius of Galatia