Saint Isaac of Syria on Mercy

I was trying to find Saint Gregory the Great's teaching on compunction today; it is something that has kept returning to my mind over the past week and I wanted to read it again, but in the process I came across a teaching of Saint Isaac the Syrian, a small but precious gem on forgiveness.


Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to the Divine nature and Divine essence. A heart hard and unmerciful will never be pure.

Saint Isaac the Syrian, Directions on Spiritual Training