13 Quotes & Sayings By John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom was the Archbishop of Constantinople from 407 to 407 AD. He is one of the most important early church leaders and theologians. He was born to wealthy parents in Antioch, Syria, and named Chrysostom after the famous physician and health care advocate Chrysippus. He was baptized as a young man and studied under the leading Christian teachers of his day Read more

His first positions were as a teacher and preacher at Antioch and then as a teacher and preacher in Nicomedia, where he also became a friend of St. Gregory Nazianzen. The Emperor Arcadius appointed him Bishop of Constantinople after Eudoxia's death in 408 AD; he remained bishop for eight years, during which time he wrote his best-known work, On the Closet (or Oracles to God).

Later he became Patriarch of Constantinople; his reign as Patriarch extended from 411 to 415 AD. He remained one of the most important leaders in the Church until his death in Chrysostom was one of the chief contributors to Christianity's unique emphasis on humanity and human nature. He was a brilliant and eloquent preacher and continued the tradition of earlier Church Fathers such as Origen; he also weathered several waves of persecution for his orthodoxy, winning over many who might otherwise have been inclined to follow Arianism or other heretical movements.

In spite of his achievements as an author, however, it is as a preacher that Chrysostom is best remembered today. His sermons are often cited by those who study church history as being exceptionally moving and full of profound insights into man's relationship with God.

1
We follow the ways of wolves, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are become worse than the wild beast. John Chrysostom
Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning...
2
Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude. John Chrysostom
3
A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends John Chrysostom
4
The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. John Chrysostom
5
So it is with sorrow, each thinks his own present grief the most severe. For of this he judges by his own experience. He that is childless considers nothing so sad as to be without children; he that is poor, and has many children, complains of the extreme evils of a large family. He who has but one, looks upon this as the greatest misery, because that one, being set too much store by, and never corrected, becomes willful, and brings grief upon his father. He who has a beautiful wife, thinks nothing so bad as having a beautiful wife, because it is the occasion of jealousy and intrigue. He who has an ugly one, thinks nothing worse than having a plain wife, because it is constantly disagreeable. The private man thinks nothing more mean, more useless, than his mode of life. The soldier declares that nothing is more toilsome, more perilous, than warfare; that it would he better to live on bread and water than endure such hardships. He that is in power thinks there can be no greater burden than to attend to the necessities of others. He that is subject to that power, thinks nothing more servile than living at the beck of others. The married man considers nothing worse than a wife, and the cares of marriage. The unmarried declares there is nothing so wretched as being unmarried, and wanting the repose of a home. The merchant thinks the husbandman happy in his security. The husbandman thinks the merchant so in his wealth. In short, all mankind are somehow hard to please, and discontented and impatient. John Chrysostom
6
For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force. John Chrysostom
7
Since it is likely that, being men, they would sin every day, St. Paul consoles his hearers by saying ‘renew yourselves’ from day to day. This is what we do with houses: we keep constantly repairing them as they wear old. You should do the same thing to yourself. Have you sinned today? Have you made your soul old? Do not despair, do not despond, but renew your soul by repentance, and tears, and Confession, and by doing good things. And never cease doing this. John Chrysostom
8
I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in not enjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants to receive it. And if he wants to receive it, he cannot help but being distraught at losing it. Those who are in love with applause have their spirits starved not only when they are blamed off-hand, but even when they fail to be constantly praised. John Chrysostom
9
If then we have angels, let us be sober, as though we were in the presence of tutors; for there is a demon present also. John Chrysostom
10
No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great. John Chrysostom
11
As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a [person]. John Chrysostom
12
[On what young husbands should say to their wives:] I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us.. I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you. John Chrysostom