The only thing man has is his will, and God helps him according to this will. This is why I say that all the good things we may have are gifts from God. Our works are zero, and our virtues are a long series of zeros. We must try to constantly add zeros and beseech Christ to put a digit at the beginning so that we may become rich. If Christ doesn’t put the digit at the beginning, our efforts will be in vain. – Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos

From the book Spiritual Awakening, published by the monastery of St. John the Theologian, Souroti, Greece, 2008.

(h/t Fr. Benedict)