Evagrius Ponticus is likely the first to have introduced the literary form of aphoristic sentences into Christian literature. This volume presents three collections of sayings: the Mirror for Monks and Nuns, as well as the Exhortation to Monks. The three writings illuminate the practical-ascetic and contemplative life of monks in the desert. The life and work of Evagrius are vividly presented in a detailed introduction, and the text is offered in a new German translation.