St. Maximus the Confessor,St. John Chrysostom,St. Isaac the Syrian,St. Mark the Ascetic & St. Macarius of Optina ~ Sorrows II

   A man of discernment, meditating on the healing Divine Providence, bears with thanksgiving the misfortunes that come to him. He sees their causes in his own sins, and not in anyone else. But a mindless man, when he sins and receives the punishment for it, considers the cause of his misfortune to be God, or people, not understanding God's care for him.

(St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 2.46)

   If we were not passionately inclined to money or to vainglory, then we would not fear death or poverty. We would not know enmity or hatred, and we would not suffer from the sorrows of ourselves or others.

(St. John Chrysostom, To those at Enemity, 3.19)


   Afflictions for God's sake are dearer to Him than any prayer or sacrifice.

(St. Isaac the Syrian, Homilies, 58)


   God tested Abraham. That is, he sent him afflictions for his benefit, not so that he could find out what sort of man he was, for God knows everything, but so that He give him the means to perfect his faith.


(St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2.203)



   When we bravely and quietly endure the afflictions sent to us, we participate a little, albeit not fully, in the sufferings of Christ.

(St. Macarius of Optina, Letters, 473)



Source:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm