Abba Nisterus the Great was walking in the desert with a brother. When they saw a dragon, they fled. The brother said to him, “Are you afraid too, Father?” The elder replied, “I am not afraid, child. But it was good for me that I fled, because otherwise I would not have escaped the spirit of vainglory.”
A brother asked Abba Nisterus, “What good work should I do?” The elder replied, “Are not all works equal? Scripture says that Abraham was hospitable and God was with him; Elijah loved stillness and God was with him; David was humble and God was with him. So whatever you see your soul desire according to God, do that, and guard your heart.”
Abba Joseph asked Abba Nisterus, “What should I do with my tongue? I cannot control it.” The elder said, “When you speak, do you find rest?” Joseph replied, “No.” The elder said, “If you do not find rest, why speak? Be silent instead. And when conversation happens, listen much more than you speak.”
A brother saw Abba Nisterus wearing two short tunics and asked him, “If a poor person came and asked you for clothing, which would you give him?” He replied, “The better one.” The brother asked, “And if another person asked you, what would you give him?” The elder said, “Half of the other garment.” He asked again, “And if someone else asked, what would you give?” The elder replied, “I would cut what remained and give him half, and gird myself with the rest.” The brother asked, “And if someone asked you for that too, what would you do?” The elder said, “I would give him what remained, then go and sit somewhere until God sent me something to cover myself. For I do not ask anyone for anything.”
Abba Nisterus said, “Every night and every morning a monk should give an account to himself: What have we done that God wills, and what have we left undone that He does not will? In this way he should examine his whole life. Abba Arsenius lived like this.
“Strive every day to stand before God without sin. Pray to Him as one who is present to One who is present, for He truly is present. Do not make laws for yourself, and judge no one. It is foreign to a monk to swear, to commit perjury, to lie, to curse, to insult, or to laugh. And the one who is honored or exalted beyond his worth suffers great harm.”