The tear we shed, even when we praise ourselves is a small gift from the ocean of heavenly mercy. Even if the first tear is not clean, after we shed some more and cry about its uncleanness, soon it will shine. You know how least appealing was the One who had no form or beauty, but Who was hurt, spit and bleeding (Isaiah 53.2-4)? And yet, it was still love, desire! And our love for him should be stronger than death.

From time to time, shed a tear because they are like pearls that adorn your soul. They are a great cure against the fickleness that is born of man's dreams about himself.

(Translated from Sfântul Inochentie al Penzei, Viața care duce la Cer, traducere de Adrian Tănăsescu-Vlas, Editura Sophia, București, 2012, p. 109)