Leaves And Fruit

Ἠρωτήθη ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἀγάθων, τί μεῖζον, ὁ σωματικὸς κόπος, ἤ ἡ φυλακή τῶν ἔνδον. Εἷπε δὲ ὁ γέρων· Ἐοικε δένδρῳ ὁ ἀνθρωπος ὁ τοίνυν σωματικὸς κόπος φύλλα ἐστιν· ἡ δέ τῶν ἔνδον φυλακὴ ὁ καρπός ἐστιν. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Πᾶν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκοπτεται, καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται, φανερόν ἐστιν ὅτι διὰ τὸν καρπόν ἐστιν ἡμῶν ἡ σπουδὴ πᾶσα, τουέστι τὴν τοῦ νοὸς φυλακήν. χρεία δέ ἐστι καὶ τῆς ἐκ τῶν φύλλων σκέπης καὶ εὐκοσμίας, ἄτινά ἐστιν ὁ σωματικὸς κόπος. Ἀποφθέγματα Ἀγίων Γερόντων, Παλλάδιος Γαλατίας Source: Migne PG 65.112b

Father Agathon was asked, 'What is greater, corporeal labour or guarding the interior?' The old man said, 'Like the leaves of a tree are the corporeal works of a man and guarding the interior is the fruit. Indeed, as it is written, 'Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.' It is evident that it is our task to watch the fruit, that is, to guard the mind. Yet it is necessary that the leaves are there as a shelter and an adornment, that is, corporeal labour.' Sayings of the Fathers, Palladius of Galatia