Desert Fathers: Athlete of God
A hermit said about the temptation to lust, ‘Do you want to be saved? Go, and discipline yourself, “Seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you”. In the world there are boxers who are hit hard and yet stand firm and receive crowns. Sometimes one is set up on by two at once and their blows give him strength so that he overcomes them. Have you not seen what strength exercise brings? So stand and be strong and the Lord will defeat your enemy for you”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V