Basil of Caesarea Quotes

After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us toward is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven.

Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.

It's a kind of philosophy of my own life, to create the energy enough to keep on going.

One thing I've come to learn about myself is that I have to keep going.

But - but the greatest way to witness is by walking that straight and narrow and also realizing that you're going to mess up. That's what grace is for. We're going to fall, but we've got to get back up. And you've got to improve. And that's what I'm all about.

It took more strength and hard work than I would've believed myself capable of, but with God's grace and strength, I managed to lift myself up and become a better person that I'd ever imagined - I believe I have become a loving husband, a compassionate father, and a stronger wrestler.

It's one of those things that I use everything that I go through... to be better. I use it all to just fuel the fire, to grow and learn from.

The ramifications that you set for yourself can inspire you to do things that you would have never thought of because, once you're trapped, your job is to persevere.

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew.

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean, do not be disturbed because of your imperfections, and always rise up bravely from a fall. I am glad that you make a daily new beginning; there is no better means of progress in the spiritual life than to be continually beginning afresh, and never to think that we have done enough.

I have fallen short in my life, but my faith has always brought me home.

It is much easier to conquer a country than to conquer ourselves.

It's been stress and drama for a long time now, man. So much has happened. I got shot five times by some dudes who were trying to rub me out. But God is great. He let me come back. But, when I look at the last few years, it's not like everybody just did me wrong. I made some mistakes. But I'm ready to move on.

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

Oprah is wildly successful, and she's a brilliant businesswoman. She's also somebody who's overcome a ton of demons in her own life, and that's really what shaped her. I think the same could be said for me.

The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself.

Patience is a virtue, and I'm learning patience. It's a tough lesson.

You cannot let where you are today cause you to get stuck. I'm going to be my best right now. That's what faith is all about.

I learnt one thing in the past or in my life: the only person you can change is yourself, and it has to come from within.

I constantly push my body to meet what my mind wants me to be able to do.

It's in the act of having to do things that you don't want to that you learn something about moving past the self. Past the ego.

I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life. That's a great gift.

It doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish. It's all a matter of discipline. I was determined to discover what life held for me beyond the inner-city streets.

I am proof that one person can rise above any challenge, and if I can, then so will others if they are given the chance.

My desire is to stand up and brush myself off when I make mistakes and ask for forgiveness.