The spirit of wisdom is ascension towards the Cause of the
higher spiritual principles inherent in the commandments, and union with
it. Through this ascension and union we are initiated, in so far as this
is possible for human beings, simply and through unknowing into those inner
divine principles of created beings, and in different ways we present to
men, as if from a spring welling up in our heart, the truth which resides
in all things.
St. Maximos the Confessor(Third Century of Various
Texts no. 39)
There are four forms of wisdom: first, moral judgment, or the knowledge
of what should and should not be done, combined with watchfulness of the
intellect; second, self-restraint, whereby our moral purpose is safeguarded
and kept free from all acts, thoughts and words that do not accord with
God: third, courage, or strength and endurance in sufferings, trials and
temptations encountered on the spiritual path; and fourth, justice, which
consists in maintaining a proper balance between the first three. These
four general virtues arise from the three powers of the soul in the following
manner: from the intelligence, or intellect, come moral judgment and justice,
or discrimination; from the desiring power comes self-restraint; and from
the incensive power comes courage.
St. Peter of Damaskos(A Treasury of Divine Knowledge:
Book 1)
To those who do not long for it, wisdom is fear, because of the loss
which they suffer through their flight from it; but in those who cleave
to it, wisdom is loving desire, promoting an inner state of joyous activity.
For wisdom creates fear, delivering a person from the passions by making
him apprehensive of punishment; and it also produces loving desire, accustoming
the intellect through the acquisition of the virtues to behold the blessings
held in store for us.
St. Maximos the Confessor(Third Century of Various
Texts no. 61)
Wisdom is a unity contemplated indivisibly in the various virtues which
arise from it; and it is perceived in a single form in the operations of
the virtues. Again, it appears as a simple unity when the virtues which
issued from it are reintegrated with it. This happens when we, for whose
sake wisdom has produced from itself each individual virtue, are drawn
upwards towards it by means of each virtue.
St. Maximos the Confessor(Third Century of Various
Texts no. 44)
Wisdom operates in a fourfold manner in the intellect... It activates
sound understanding in the form of light, courage as clear-sighted power
and ever-moving inspiration, self-restraint as a power of sanctification
and purification, and justice as the dew of purity, joy-inducing and cooling
the arid heat of the passions.
St. Gregory of Sinai(On Commandments and Doctrines
no. 85)
Used with the permission of Fr Seraphim Holland from his
website.
