2.55. Hilary, a monk from the scholastics.

At last, having ceased thy pilgrimage, thou hast made up thy mind to imitate this ancient man, after thou hast met him at the Echinades! For who among the well-meaning will approve of this, to walk everywhere, to know no rest, to jostle hither and thither without any great and unavoidable need, to run from place to place, like hares to change one bed for another? Therefore, dwell in the monastery without exit and motionless, exercising yourself in silence, and watch when death comes, so that, with good permission, you may rejoice eternally at the feet of Christ.

2.61. To Monk Athanasius.

Return quickly to the monastery from which you came out so badly, so that, remaining for a long time outside this fence, you will not become food for mental beasts. And if you say that you left the monastery in the hope of some higher virtue, then remember him who said: "There is a way that thinks a man is right, but his last comes to the bottom of hell" (Proverbs 14:12). For Satan always catches those who have not experienced his evil tricks for the most part with something plausible.

2.70. To the monk Democritus.

If a plant that is often transplanted, although it is abundantly watered, is able to bear fruit, then you, too, walking hither and thither, chasing after shadows and winds, trying to know every place, and finding no rest for yourself, will be able to bring forth the fruit of righteousness.

Instruction to novice monks.

3.262.

The young must accustom himself to the quietness of bodily movements, to decorum in clothing, to moderation and decorum in the voice, to the serene eating and drinking of food and drink and in scarcity, to silence before the elders, to attentive listening in the presence of the wisest, to the love of equals, to the readiness to give advice with love to the younger, to distance oneself from people who are bad, carnal and interfere in their own business.

And having succeeded, he must accustom himself to seek praise only from God. And if he becomes capable of teaching and benefiting others, let him do this for the sake of the reward that is set aside from God, as a work which he is obliged to do before God, and which is rewarded by God with eternal gifts.

About where the toast "Be healthy!" came from

2.299. Scholasticus Cleonicus.

Others say that when wine was invented after the flood, some, having drunk too much whole wine, died. Wherefore others, having found it best to drink in moderation, and moreover wine dissolved with water, and having consumed such drink, remained alive. But those who had not yet drunk the moisture of the grapes, out of fear of death, asked those who had already drunk whether they were alive. And since they answered: "Yes, they are alive," then, rejoicing, each of the surviving relatives of their relatives said: "Alive! For this reason, from that time to the present day, the custom has been preserved to say to drinkers: "Be healthy." This I have said in answer to your question.

On Serving Masters