"The Institutes is the first written work of John Cassian, a man who had an immense influence on Western monasticism and, by extension, on Western civilization. A native of Dacia, Cassian (c. 360-430) joined a monastery in Bethlehem in his early adult years. From Palestine, Cassian and his traveling companion, Germanus, visited Egypt several times.".

"Although Cassian eventually settled in Marseilles, his experience of Egyptian monasticism left an indelible impression on his life. It is the wisdom he learned there that he shares in The Institutes as well as in his later "companion piece," The Conferences.".

"The Institutes consists of two sections. In the first, Cassian deals with the institutes and rules of Egyptian monasteries, including monastic garb and forms of prayer. The balance of the work treats the eight principal vices (gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness, acedia, vainglory, and pride) and discusses strategies for countering their effects."--BOOK JACKET.