The higher a person’s position in society the more he should help others without ever reminding them of his position.

St. Nicholas II, Czar of Russia

They say that Abba Macarius the Egyptian [St. Macarius the Great] on one occasion went up from Scete to the Nitrian mountain, and as he drew near to a certain place, he said to his disciple, "Pass on a little in front of me"; and when he had done so there met him a certain heathen priest, who was running along and carrying some wood about the time of noon. And that brother cried out to him and said, "O minister to devils, where run thou?"  And the priest turned round and smote him with many severe blows, and he left him with but very little breath remaining in him, and he took up his wood and went on his way; and when he had gone on a little further the blessed Macarius met him on his journey, and said to him, "May you be helped, O man of labours?"  And the priest was astonished, and came to him and said, "What fair thing have you seen in me that you should salute me [in this gracious fashion] ?"  And the old man said to him, "I see that you toil, and that you do not know that you are toiling for naught"; then he said to the old man, "At your salutation I also was very sorry, and I learned that you did belong to the Great God. But a wicked monk met me just before you didst, and he cursed me, and I smote him even to death."  And the old man knew that it was his disciple [of whom he spake], and the priest laid hold upon the feet of Macarius, and said to him, "I will not let you [go] until you make me a monk"; and they came to the place where the brother was lying, and they carried him and brought him to the church of the mountain. Now when the fathers saw the heathen priest with him, they marvelled that he had been converted from the error which he had held; and Macarius took him and made him a monk, and through him many of the heathen became Christians. And Abba Macarius said, " ' An evil word makes wicked even those who are good, and a good word makes good even those who are wicked,' as it is written."

from Sayings of the Holy Desert Fathers

The thief who received the kingdom of heaven, though not as the reward of virtue, is a true witness to the fact that salvation is ours through the grace and mercy of God. 

All of our holy fathers knew this and all with one accord teach that perfection in holiness can be achieved only through humility. 

Humility, in its turn, can be achieved only through faith, fear of God, gentleness and the shedding of all possessions. 

It is by means of these that we attain perfect love, through the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory through all the ages. Amen.

St. John Cassian

A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.

St. Nectarios of Aegina

And pray without ceasing in behalf of other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See, then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be steadfast in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness.

St Ignatius of Antioch

Those seeking perfect gentleness must make every effort to avoid anger not only towards men, but also towards animals and even inanimate objects.

St. John Cassian