Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/The Twelve Books/Book XII/Chapter 30

Chapter XXX.

How when a man has grown cold through pride he wants to be put to rule other people.

when a man whom pride has mastered has fallen through these stages of descent, he shudders at the discipline of the c&#339;nobium, and&#8212;as if the companionship of the brethren hindered his perfection, and the sins of others impeded and interfered with his advance in patience and humility&#8212;he longs to take up is abode in a solitary cell; else is eager to build a monastery and gather together some others to teach and instruct, as if he would do good to many more people, and make himself from being a bad disciple a still worse master. For when through this pride of heart a man has fallen into this most dangerous and injurious coldness, he can neither be a real monk nor a man of the world, and what is worse, promises to himself to gain perfection by means of this wretched state and manner of life of his.