…let us avoid vainglory and love of notoriety as denial of the cross of Christ. Denial of Christ’s cross is at the same time denial of Christ; “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple,” said the Lord. Fallen men! We cannot know and confess Christ sincerely and practically except from our cross, having first learned and confessed our fall and the necessity of the way of the cross for the attainment of heaven and eternal beatitude. Let us avoid all occasions of vainglory and human glory, as the holy Fathers avoided them, so as not to lose interest in the teachings of Christ and become white-washed sepulchers–Christians in appearance, but in reality apostates.
~Ignatius Brianchaninov
Prayerful Life 