The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Apophtegma Patrum Latin - Words of the Fathers) are a set of precepts, anecdotes, and words attributed to hermits and monks who inhabited the Egyptian desert in the fourth century. These words were bandied orally for decades and then put in writing and indexed in the first half of the fifth century.
These sayings have an educational role: they teach us to love God, to strengthen our will. I chose to give a short overview, selecting stories and aphorisms that seemed most likely to enrich us in our personal elevation to God. I am drawing from the Te Deum Forum because this section appears to have a comprehensive selection. This is food for the mind.
http://messe.forumactif.org/t417-apophtegmes-des-peres-du-desert