Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 153-157

153. When you delight in hearing evil talk, be angry with yourself and not with the speaker. For listening in a sinful way makes the messenger seem sinful.
154. If you come across people gossiping idly, consider yourself responsible for their talk - if not on account of some recent fault of your own, then because of an old debt.
155. If someone praises you hypocritically, be sure that in due course he will vilify you.
156. Accept present afflictions for the sake of future blessings; then you will never weaken in your struggle.
157. When someone supplies your bodily needs and you praise him as good in his own right apart from God, he will later seem to you to be evil.