“Christ wants you never, in any way, for any reason, to cultivate a spirit of hatred, bitterness, anger or ill-feeling. The four gospels proclaim that on every page." (St. Maximos the Confessor)
“As God illumines all people equally with the light of the sun, so do those who desire to imitate God let shine an equal ray of love on all people. For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is love, then hatred is the devil. Therefore, as one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the devil within himself.” (St. Basil the Great)
“Endurance isn’t fostered when we respond to hatred with hatred. Doing so weakens us spiritually, and even physically. Instead, endurance is strengthened when we don’t return evil for evil, when we refuse to hate those who hate us, when we actually love those who hate us. That’s what makes it possible for us to be faithful. Love neutralizes the acidic and destructive power of hate.” (Father Barnabas Powell)
“If you feel that hatred has overwhelmed you, remain silent. Say nothing until, by ceaseless prayer and self-recrimination, you have calmed your heart." (St. Hilarion of Optina)
“The heart can change several times in one moment - to good or evil, to faith or unbelief, to simplicity or cunning, to love or hatred, to benevolence or envy, to generosity or avarice, to chastity or fornication. O, what inconstancy! O, how many dangers! O, how sober and watchful we must be!” (St. John of Kronstadt)