CONTRA FATUM

” Having noted in the aforementioned psalm (4,8), therefore, that the goal (τέλος) of virtue is peace, rest, and the abode which is simple and unmingled with the passions, which is attained on the basis of the hope of participating in God ( τοῦ θεοῦ μετουσίας) , that which is contrary to this was pointed out there by means of silence .” (In Ins., GNO 36-37)

“it amounts to the same, whether we speak of God as unsusceptible of evil, or whether we call Him good; whether we confess that He is immortal, or say that He ever liveth. For we understand no difference in the sense of these terms, but we signify one and the same thing by both, though the one may seem to convey the notion of affirmation, and the other of negation.” -->(CE 2, NPNF, p. 263)

“[...]when we see the execrable character of evil, we grasp His own unalterable pureness as regards this: when we consider death's dissolution to be the worst of ills, we give the name of Immortal and Indissoluble at once to Him Who is removed from every conception of that kind” ( CE 2 477, NPNF, p. 298)

"Now we declare that Virginity is man's ''fellow-worker'' and helper in the achieving the aim of this lofty passion. In other sciences men have devised certain practical methods for cultivating the particular subject; and so, I take it, virginity is the practical method in the science of the Divine life, furnishing men with the power of assimilating themselves with spiritual natures." (De Vir., NPNF, p. 550)