Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 89-92

89. Never belittle the significance of your thoughts, for not one escapes God's notice.
90. When you observe some thought suggesting that you seek human fame, you can be sure it will bring you disgrace.
91. The enemy, understanding how the justice of the spiritual law is applied, seeks only the assent of our mind. Having secured this, he will either oblige us to undergo' the labors of repentance or, if we do not repent, will torment us with misfortunes beyond our control. Sometimes he encourages us to resist these misfortunes so as to increase our torment, and then, at our death, he will point to this impatient resistance as proof of our lack of faith.
92. Many have fought in various ways against circumstances; but without prayer and repentance no one has escaped evil.