"The Divine One is himself the Good, whose very nature is goodness... Certainly whoever pursues true virtue participates in nothing other than God, because he is himself Absolute Virtue."

This book is considered the bedrock of Orthodox spirituality and mysticism as well as the prototype of allegorical biblical interpretation for both the Western and Eastern Church. Gregory utilizes the literal life of Moses to paint an allegorical picture of the goals of the spiritual life: climbing the mountain of the knowledge and love of God, living a life of ever-increasing virtue toward perfection, becoming a friend of God. The spiritual life can be neither stagnant nor static; as one travels further and higher on the road of virtue, one paradoxically attains an unattainable perfection. This paradox is rooted in the God who is Perfect Virtue yet whose Perfect Virtue is utterly limitless.