St. Joseph the Hesychast: These times

 The lamps are going out, and we are walking in tangible darkness. Rarely do you hear anything about how to be saved. Only gossip and criticism. Everyone wants to teach the others. Seldom does someone give his life as proof of the Gospel - as a continuation of the life of the Fathers. All that is left is a great fear of temptations and inordinate boasting.

+St. Joseph the Hesychast, from Monastic Wisdom, Letter 26.

St. Joseph the Hesychast: on the importance of prayer

Well-justified claims might extract from [Elder Joseph] corresponding concessions regarding any practical matter that concerned him. But no concessions could be made in the order and rule of prayer. His strictness and perseverance in this divine work of prayer testified to the height and breadth of his fervor, and the corresponding results were very evident. In the judgment of our Fathers, the clearest sign of a soul's spirituality is ceaseless prayer, as a constant state and not as a product of effort. An in our spiritual elder, we could see that prayer was his chief preoccupation and his chief goal.
The ever-memorable Elder instructed us and untiringly pointed out the value and richness of the fruit of prayer. He would often say emphatically, "This strictness in keeping this commandment and this effort in prayer will open the door of prayer to you", or This mistake will get in the way of your prayer."
+St. Joseph the Hesychast, teaching on prayer described by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi in Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Struggles, Experiences, Teachings

St. Joseph the Hesychast: Who has conquered the devil?

Who has conquered the devil? He who knows his own weaknesses, passions, and shortcomings. Whoever is afraid of knowing himself remains far from knowledge, and he doesn't love anything else except seeing faults in others and judging them. He doesn't see gifts in other people, but only shortcomings. And he doesn't see his own shortcomings, but only his gifts. This is truly the sickness that plagues us men of the eighth millenium (Ps 24:18, LXX): we fail to recognize one another's gifts.

+ St. Joseph the Hesychast from Monastic Wisdom, The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast.