He who is not attracted by worldly things cherishes stillness. He who loves nothing merely human loves all men. And he who takes no offense at anyone either on account of their faults, or on account of his own suspicious thoughts, has knowledge of God and of things divine….God, full beyond all fullness, brought creatures into being not because He had need of anything, but so that they might participate in Him in proportion to their capacity and that He Himself might rejoice in His works (Psalm 104:31), through seeing them joyful and ever filled to overflowing with His inexhaustible gifts.
~St Maximos the Confessor
