A brother made a request of Abba , “Give me a word.” And he said to him, “When the kettle is on the fire, a fly or any other creature cannot touch it; but when it is cold, they sit on it. So it is for the [Christian]; as long as one abides in spiritual activities, the enemy cannot find a way to overthrow him.”
Apophthegmata Patrum
Alphabetical Collection
