On Smoking

St. Ambrose of Optina 1812-1891

You can’t stop smoking tobacco? What is impossible for man is possible with God’s help. Just firmly decide to quit, realizing how harmful it is for the soul and the body, since tobacco weakens the soul, and increases and strengthens the passions, darkens the mind, and destroys physical health with a slow death. (Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina pg. 70)