EIGHT PRINCIPLES

Evagrius Ponticus, who was also called Evagrius the Solitary (345–399 AD), was a Christian monk and ascetic who became a Desert Father, taught:
“There are eight principal thoughts, from which all other thoughts stem. The first thought is of gluttony; the second, of fornication; the third, of love of money; the fourth, of discontent; the fifth, of anger; the sixth, of despondency; the seventh, of vainglory; the eighth, of pride. Whether these thoughts disturb the soul or not does not depend on us; but whether they linger in us or not and set passions in motion or not – does depend on us.”
“You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Jesus