St Maximos the Confessor: For he who would truly unite himself with God must...

It is said that he who does not first reintegrate himself with his own being by rejecting those passions which are contrary to nature will not be reintegrated with the Cause of his being - that is, with God - by acquiring supranatural blessings through grace.

For he who would truly unite himself with God must first separate himself mentally from created things.

St Maximos the Confessor