The elder replied:

One elder was asked how a zealous Christian can not be tempted when he experiences so many temptations: the world opposes him in every way, he sees monks returning to the world, understands his own weakness, etc.?

The elder replied: “Let him imagine dogs chasing hares. When one of them sees the hare, immediately rushes after him - the others see only the chased dog and at first also run after him, and then come back; the very first dog that saw the hare, is chasing until it catches him. He is not distracted from the goal by the fact that other dogs lagged behind, turning back, he does not look at the rapids, nor at the forest thicket, nor at the thorny bushes and, running through thorns, is often wounded, but does not cease to run. In the same way, he who seeks the Master of Christ steadily strives toward Him, defeating all the temptations he encounters, until he reaches the goal.