The world and worshiping the worldly things is a risky business. When people do something good, they are honoured by everybody, but when they fall into dishonour and disgrace, everybody turns their face from them. When people are rich, they have a lot of soothing and flattering friends, but when they are in trouble, they have no one. The Apostles stood near Christ while He was honoured and cherished, but when He suffered all of them ran away. Therefore, you shall not seek for welfare and worldly honours, but put your trust into God day and night, and raise your mind towards Him.

Worldly appreciation and glory come as a consequence of welfare, as shadow after sun. While the sun is shining, we have also shadow, but when the sun hides, the shadow disappears. The same happens with those that are honoured for their welfare and when they fail they are left alone. Same as the sunflower that opens itself in the morning, and in the evening is never the same. This is how the world functions, through its customs and honours.

(Traslated from Sfântul Dimitrie al Rostovului, Alfabetul duhovnicesc, Editura Sophia, București, 2007, p. 67)