Protecting the mind from an excess of useless knowledge and idle curiosity. [THREAD]

In the same way that it necessary to protect the mind from a lack of knowledge, so it is equally important to preserve it from the contrary, that is, from knowing too much and from curiosity. Filling it with worldly information and thoughts we deny its force.

Hear what St. Basil said, "Let hearing worldly news be like bitter food to you, but let the words of the saints be like honeycombs."

Worldly thoughts are the fishing-nets of the devil who, using our curiosity, catches us in shackles of pride and self-conceit.

A prideful mind is a most dangerous thing and not easily fixed. Much worse than a prideful will, which is unseen to the mind, and can often be fixed by making it submit to a good yoke.

On account of this you must hurry to fight against this evil pride of the mind, before it goes deep into the marrow of your bones. Hold steadfast against it. Restrict your mental activity and submit your judgments to those of others.

Become a fool for God's love, if you want to be wiser than Solomon, "If anyone among you appears to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, in order that he may become wise" (1 Cor 3:18).