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# Monk Simeon of Athos on suffering, forgiveness, listening and peace of soul
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/kto-luchshii-uchitel-stradanie/
- Published: 2025-08-16T16:27:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:36:16.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Faith, Books, Observations

Who is the best teacher? – Suffering.  
Who is the worst teacher? – Pleasure.  
What is the rarest skill? – The ability to give.  
What is the greatest skill? – The ability to forgive.  
What is the most difficult skill? – The ability to keep silent.  
What is the most important skill? – The ability to ask questions.  
Which skill is the most necessary? – The ability to listen.  
Which struggle is the most dangerous? – Fanaticism.  
What is the most unpleasant habit? – Quarrelling.  
What is the most harmful habit? – Talkativeness.  
Who is the strongest person? – He who is able to grasp the Truth.  
Who is the weakest person? – He who considers himself the strongest.  
Who is the wisest person? – He who guards his heart.  
Which attachment is the most dangerous? – Attachment to one's own body.  
Who is the poorest person? – He who loves money most of all.  
Who is closest to God? – The merciful.  
Who is the weakest person? – He who has defeated others.  
Who is the strongest person? – He who has defeated himself.  
How should we withstand grief? – With joy.  
How should we bear suffering? – With patience.  
What is the sign of a healthy soul? – Faith.  
What is the sign of a sick soul? – Despair.  
What is the sign of wrong actions? – Irritability.  
What is the sign of good deeds? – Peace in the soul.

**Monk Simeon of Athos**