John Klimakos - Three Chapters on Prayer

56. When you go out after prayer,
keep your tongue under restraint,
for it is well capable of dissipating,
in a very short time,
what you labored to gather together.

57. When you are ready to stand
in the presence of the Lord,
let your soul wear a garment woven throughout
from the cloth of our forgiveness of others.
Otherwise your prayer will be of no value whatsoever.

58. Let all your prayer be completely simple.
Both the tax collector and the prodigal son
were reconciled to God by one simple phrase -
one said: God, have mercy on me, a sinner,
and the other: Father, I have sinned against you.

- St John Klimakos