from the mussar masters

art-pearls

“And he called out to the people, saying to them,'Listen and understand! It is not what enters the mouth that makes the person tamei, but what comes out from the mouth—that makes the person tamei.'” --Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 15:10-11, DHE

Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: “Here the Yetzer seduces you, there the Yetzer betrays you.” --Talmud

Nittai the Arbelite said: Keep thee far from an evil neighbor and associate not with the wicked; and abandon not belief in retribution. --Avot 1:7

“The greater a person is, the greater is the force of his temptation.” --Talmud, Succah 52a

Hasten to do even the slightest mitzvah, and flee from all sin. Because one mitzvah will lead to another, and one sin will lead to another.” --Avot 4:2

“You have given Your people beginnings of new months, which are time of forgiveness for all their transgressions.” – Rosh Chodesh Mussaf service

“One who walks with the wise will grow wise, but the companion of fools will be broken.” --Proverbs 13:20

Rabbi Eleazar ha-Kappar used to say: “Jealousy, lust, and ambition remove man from the world.” – Avot 4:28

“Reflect upon three things and you will not come within the power of sin: Know what is above you --a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all your deeds recorded in a book.” --Avot 2:1

 Don't quench the Spirit, don't despise inspired messages. But do test everything – hold onto what is good but keep away from every form of evil.” --1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

“What G-d wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires...” --1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness.” --Romans 6:13