Patristic Quote for the Day

He who on account of his virtue or spiritual knowledge falls victim to self-esteem grows his hair like Absalom, to no good purpose. Outwardly he appears to pursue a moral way of life, but it is carefully contrived and mixed (like a mule) with conceit, and designed to deceive onlookers. - St. Maximos the Confessor, *Third Century of Various Texts* #59 (Philokalia II:225)