These sage and pithy teachings are full of precious wisdom for the development of a sturdy spiritual life and a fruit-bearing rule of prayer. St. Thalassios writes, "Maintain a regular level of ascetic practice and do not break your rule unless forced to do so. You will not find the rigours of ascetic life hard to bear if you do all things with measure and by rule." The saint's advice has many applications for contemporary urban Christians who want a deeper life with Christ. This beautiful collection of 400 aphorisms on love, self-control and life in accord with the intellect is the only extant work of St. Thalassios, the Libyan abbot, close confidant of St. Maximos the Confessor, and the recipient of several of St. Maximos' theological treatises and personal letters. This treatise is found in Volume 2 of the Philokalia.