Miscellaneous Fragments from Lost Writings

The soul can with difficulty be recalled to those good things from which it has fallen, and is with difficulty dragged away from those evils to which it has become accustomed. If at any time you show a disposition to blame yourself, then perhaps, through the medicine of repentance, I should cherish good hopes regarding you. But when you altogether despise fear, and reject with scorn the very faith of Christ, it were better for you that you had never been born from the womb.— From the writings of John of Damascus.