Evagrius Ponticus: Reading, vigils, and prayer

Reading, vigils and prayer - these are the things that lend stability to the wandering mind. Hunger, toil and solitude are the means of extinguishing the flames of desire. Turbid anger is calmed by the singing of Psalms, by patience and almsgiving. But all these practices are to be engaged in according to due measure and at the appropriate times. What is untimely done, or done without measure, endures but a short time. And what is short lived is more harmful than profitable.
Evagrius Ponticus, from The Praktikos, #15