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Click here to read at earlychurchtexts.com in the original Greek (with dictionary links and alongside the English translation given below). The English translation below reflects that of Benedicta Ward, with some adaptation by Andrew Maguire. There are more sayings on the subscription version of the site (Greek with English translation alongside) with links to a full scanned Greek text.

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• Gives easy access to complete Greek and Latin texts which are in the public domain and translations (where found available) from the first five centuries. There are carefully indexed links to authors and their works, including an index of commentaries, homilies etc. by biblical book. Nearly all of the Greek and Latin texts from this period contained in the Migne Patrologia series are covered. Some other sources are also used. The texts used are the scanned versions available at Google Books and elsewhere. A distinctive feature of the Early Church Texts website is that where English translations have been found available online they can easily be read immediately alongside the original Greek and Latin. (A complete list of authors represented is here. A sample text is here.)

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Anthony

There was a man in the desert hunting wild animals. He saw Abba Anthony joking with the brethren. The old man, wanting to assure him that it was necessary sometimes to show consideration for the needs of the brethren, said to him, ‘Put an arrow in your bow and draw it.’ So he did. The old man then said, ‘Draw it again,’ and he did so. Then the old man said, ‘Draw yet again and the hunter replied ‘If I draw my bow so much it will break.’ Then the old man said to him, ‘It is the same with the work of God. If we submit the brethren to stress beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary show consideration for their needs.’ The hunter was stunned buy what he heard. He went away greatly helped by the old man. As for the brethren, they returned strengthened to their own dwelling.

Arsenius

Abba Mark asked Abba Arsenius ‘Is it good to have nothing in one's cell that might offer a little comfort? I saw a brother uprooting the few vegetables he has.’ Abba Arsenius replied, ‘That is good, but it must be done according to a person’s capacity. For if people do not have the strength for such a practice, they will soon plant others.’

John the Dwarf

It was said of Abba John the Dwarf, that one day he said to his elder brother, ‘I should like to be free of all care, like the angels, who do not work, but ceaselessly offer worship to God.’ So he took off his cloak and went away into the desert. After a week he came back to his brother. When he knocked on the door, his brother responded to the knock, before opening the door, saying, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am John, your brother.’ But he replied, ‘John has become an angel, and is no longer among men.’ Then the other begged him saying, ‘It is I.’ However, his brother did not let him in, but left him there in distress until morning. Then, opening the door, he said to him, ‘You are a man and you must once again work in order to eat.’ John repented, saying, ‘Forgive me.’

Syncletica

She also said, ‘If you find yourself in a monastery do not go to another place, for that will harm you a great deal. Just as the bird who abandons the eggs she was sitting on prevents them from hatching, so the monk or the nun grows cold and their faith dies, when they go from one place to another.’