“The beginning, root and confirmation of everything is love for God. But for us this is the beginning at the end, and we love everything that is in the world more than God. We should love God in such a way that everything else besides Him is considered secondary and not the main thing, so that His laws are higher for us than all human decrees, His advice is higher than all advice, so that to grieve Him is considered much more important than to grieve some person. To love God means to love Him several times more than father, mother, children, wife, husband, brother and friend; and we don’t even love Him as much as we love them. He who loves God already loves his father, mother, children, and brother much more than he who is attached to them more than to God Himself. The love of the latter is one optical illusion, carnal sensual love, one passionate charm. Such love cannot act wisely, because its eyes are blind. Love is light, not darkness. God is in love, not the spirit of darkness: where there is light, there is peace, where there is darkness, there is indignation. And therefore, the love that comes from God is firm and brings firmness to our character and makes us firm; but love that is not from God is shaky and rebellious and makes us ourselves shaky, fearful and unsteady. And therefore, every other love on earth must come directly from God’s love...”