A Man Who Was Unable To Do Much

Ἀδελφός τις ἠρώτησε ἀββᾶν Ἰωσὴφ, λέγων· Τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὔτε κακοπαθῆσαι δύναμαι, οὐδὲ ἐργάσασθαι καὶ δοῦναι ἀγάπην; Λέγει αύτῷ ὁ γέρων· Εἰ οὐ δύνασαι τούτων οὐδὲ ἒν ποιῆσαι, κὰν τήρησον τὴν συνείδησίν σου ἀπὸ τοῦ πλησίον σου ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ, καὶ σὼζῃ. ᾽Αποφθεγματα των ἀγιων γεροντων, Παλλαδιος

A certain brother said to Father Joseph of Panephos, ' What should I do? I am unable to bear suffering, nor can I work, nor can I perform acts of charity.' The elder said to him 'If you are not able to do these things hold your conscience from any evil thought about your neighbor and you may be saved.' Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius of Galatia