"Lord, why is there so much beauty?"

Seeking to converse with God through pure imageless prayer resting in his heart, Eleazar's wonder at the beauty of creation was a difficulty for him, and he exclaimed with tears:

'Lord, why is there so much beauty in your creation which in your mercy you offer to your unworthy servant?'

Eleazar of Anzersk

Justice

A brother whom another brother had wronged came to see Abba Sisoes and said to him, “My brother has hurt me and I want to avenge myself.” The old man pleaded with him saying, “No, my child, leave vengeance to God.” He said to him, “I shall not rest until I have avenged myself.” The old man said, “Brother, let us pray.” Then the old man stood up and said,

“God, we no longer need you to care for us, since we do justice for ourselves.”

Hearing these words, the brothers fell at the old man’s feet, saying, “I will no longer seek justice from my brother; forgive me, abba.”

Abba Sisoes in Lives of the Desert Fathers, found here

Without love, vanity

All the virtues and all asceticism are in vain without love. The Devil can easily imitate all our virtues; he is conquered only by humility and charity.

Melania the Roman

Know two thoughts and fear them.

One says: you are a saint; the other: you will not be saved. Both these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them.

Silouan of Mt. Athos here

On annoyances

Our goal should be to take all that comes our way and make the best out of it for the sake of the spiritual struggle in which we are engaged. We must strive to acquire inner tranquility...

If you cannot find tranquility in the midst of disturbance, you will not be tranquil even in the midst of tranquility. When inner tranquility comes to a man, everything inside him will be tranquil, and he will not be disturbed by anything.

Elder Paisios, found here