Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/The Twelve Books/Book IX/Chapter 10

Chapter X.

Of the only thing in which dejection is useful to us.

so we must see that dejection is only useful to us in one case, when we yield to it either in penitence for sin, or through being inflamed with the desire of perfection, or the contemplation of future blessedness. And of this the blessed Apostle says: &#8220;The sorrow which is according to God worketh repentance steadfast unto salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.&#8221;