Discourses of Dorotheos of Gaza

by Dorotheus of Gaza

There is also the pride of this world, and a pride of the monastic life. The pride of this world is when you are elevated above a brother since you are richer or more good-looking or have better possessions. So when we perceive ourselves becoming vainglorious concerning these things, or on account of having a better monastery or one that is more convenient, or when we have more brothers, we should see that we have attained a high point of this worldly pride. This is when a man is vainglorious about material things. And what will I say when a man is elevated about a good voice or his elegant psalmody, or his reasoning, or on account that he performs his work well? All these are like the first, and more than the pride of this world. But the pride of the monastic life is when a man becomes vain about performing his vigils, or fasting, or his piety, or his mode of life, or his fervor. There is even the case where a man becomes humble to gain glory. All these things, I say, are the pride of the monastic life. Admittedly we are not lacking pride, but if we are proud of our monastic discipline, at least may we not be proud about material goods.