Desert wisdom from Abba Poemen

I prefer a man who sins and repents to one who does not sin and does not repent.  The first has good thoughts, for he admits that he is sinful.  But the second has false, soul-destroying thoughts, for he imagines himself to be righteous. 

Going further:  listen to or read the transcript of the program “Abba Poemen the Great:  On Softening the Hardest of Hearts,” from Ancient Faith Radio, found at this link:

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/holyfathers/abba_poemen_the_great_on_softening_the_hardest_of_hearts/