best they could. But he kept on saying, "You have not yet found it
out." And at last he asked Abbot Joseph, "And what dost thou think
this text means?" Quoth Abbot Joseph, "I do not know." Quoth
Antony, "Abbot Joseph alone has found out the way, for he says he
does not know it."

Quoth Antony, "I do not now fear God, but love Him, for love drives
out fear."

He said again, "Life and death are very near us; for if we gain our
brother, we gain God: but if we cause our brother to offend, we sin
against Christ."

A philosopher asked Antony, "How art thou content, father, since
thou hast not the comfort of books?" Quoth Antony, "My book is the
nature of created things. In it, when I choose, I can read the
words of God."

Brethren came to Antony, and asked of him a saying by which they
might be saved. Quoth he, "Ye have heard the Scriptures, and know
what Christ requires of you." But they begged that he would tell
them something of his own. Quoth he, "The Gospel says, 'If a man
smite you on one cheek, turn to him the other.'" But they said that
they could not do that. Quoth he, "You cannot turn the other cheek
to him? Then let him smite you again on the same one." But they
said they could not do that either. Then said he, "If you cannot,
at least do not return evil for evil." And when they said that
neither could they do that, quoth Antony to his disciples, "Go, get
them something to eat, for they are very weak." And he said to
them, "If you cannot do the one, and will not have the other, what