Anonymous sayings of desert fathers

“Often, as soon as he has committed the sin, the thief, the liar or some other kind of sinner sighs or reproaches himself and comes to repentance. But a man who carries rancour in his soul, whether he is eating or drinking, sleeping or walking, it consumes him like a poison. Thus he can never rid himself of the sin; his prayer becomes a curse to him and his entire toil becomes unacceptable, even if he sheds his blood for Christ.”

Anonymous sayings of desert fathers