John Chrysostom

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good." Seest thou his exact wisdom? Because it was likely that they might say, "I am perfect and master of myself, and it does me no harm to partake of what is set before me;" "Even so," saith he, "perfect thou art and master of thyself; do not however look to this, but whether the result involve not injury, nay subversion." For both these he mentioned, saying, "All …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 24 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Lest someone object: "I eat with a clear conscience and therefore have the right to do so," he says: no, all things are permissible for you, since God created you free; but to eat food sacrificed to idols is not entirely beneficial for you. For by constantly participating in idol feasts, you will gradually develop an attachment to the idols themselves.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Clement of Alexandria

Let the mention we make for our present purpose suffice, as it is not unsuitable to the flowers of the Word; and we have often done this, drawing to the urgent point of the question the most beneficial fountain, in order to water those who have been planted by the Word. "For if it is lawful for me to partake of all things, yet all things are not expedient." For those that do all that is lawful, quickly fall into doing what is unlawful. …

The Instructor Book 2 ↗