On the eight principal vices. There are eight principal vices which plunge a man into destruction: gluttony, fornication, covetousness, anger, sadness, sloth, vainglory, pride. Concerning gluttony, which must be chastised, it is said: 'Be not led away in the fullness of the belly' (Sir. 37:34). Concerning fornication: 'But fornicators and adulterers God will judge' (Heb. 13:4). Concerning covetousness it is read: 'Covetousness is the root of all evils' (1 Tim. 6:10). Concerning anger: 'Whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the fire of hell' (Matt. 5:22). Concerning sadness: 'But the sadness of the world worketh death' (2 Cor. 7:10). Concerning sloth: 'Idleness hath taught much evil' (Sir. 33:29). Concerning vainglory: 'His stench shall ascend, who magnifieth his own works' (Joel
2:20). Concerning pride: 'God resisteth the proud' (Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). And: 'He that shall exalt himself shall be humbled' (Matt. 23:12). These, then, are the origins and causes of all evils, which must be healed by their opposites. Threefold gluttony must be overcome by the abstinence of fasting from the ninth hour to the ninth hour, and by frugality and a regard for the mere usefulness (read: cheapness) of food. Let fornication and all uncleanness 'not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints' (Eph. 5:3), through chastity and a watchful continence, ever fearful. Covetousness is conquered by possessing nothing of one's own, and by holding all things in common. Anger is to be overcome by patience and meek gentleness.
Sadness, indeed, must be overcome by spiritual joy and the hope of future blessedness. The instability of sloth must be corrected by a steadfast meekness and by dwelling in one place, through sobriety — as the Scripture says: 'If the spirit of him that hath power ascend upon thee, leave not thy place' (Eccles. 10:4). Vainglory too, and unclean elation, and pride, are conquered by true humility and contrition of heart through the fear of God.