Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev): The path of humility

The Lord had to choose a path for man which would preclude his becoming proud, as the devil did, even in the afterlife, and which would help him to consciously grow in his love for God, to submit to Him wholly forever, without the possibility of falling away.
And since the characteristic of the soul opposite pride is humility, the Word of God, the Mother of God and the Holy Fathers value humility above all. Without humility no spiritual labor will help a person, for he can always fall into pride and fall away from God. Love also joins man to God, but without humility there can be no love.
+Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev), from Letters to Spiritual Children, letter #24

Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev): Attend to your spiritual life

We must do all that lies within our strength. Everyone exerts all their energies on bodily labors and only a few drowsy moments are left for the spiritual. How can this be right? Remember the words of Our Savior: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33). This is a commandment like any other, such as "Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Ex 20:13,14) and the others. The transgression of this particular commandment can often bring more harm to the soul than an occasional downfall. It unnoticeably cools the heart, making it insensitive, and often leads it to spiritual death. "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt 8:22). Those whose souls are dead, lacking in spiritual feeling and without a burning desire to follow the commandments, those who are neither hot nor cold - it is these whom the Lord threatens to "spew out of His mouth" (Rev 3:15-16).
+Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev), from Letters to Spiritual Children, letter #3, dated 1949.