Yahya ibn Muadh regarding life of this world

"O how poor is man, if he fears Hell in the same degree of his fearing poverty, then he will enter Paradise."

"I don't order you to abandon life but to abandon sins. Abandoning life is a virtue and abandoning sins is a duty, so your need for this latter is greater than your need for the former."

"How can't I love this life? A sustenance is decreedv for me in it which keeps me alive and helps me to perform the deeds of obedience that will lead me to Paradise."

"The life of this world is a house of deeds and the Hereafter is a house of horrors. Man remains
between deeds and horrors until he settles either in Paradise or in Hell."

"O man! You seek this life as an imperious need for you, whereas you seek the Hereafter as if
you are in no need of it. However, the All-Mighty Allah has spared you the efforts as regards to your needs in the life of this world, and if you seek the Hereafter, then you will obtain it, so take your decision."

"Night is so long therefore don't shorten it with sleep, and day is so pure therefore don't soil it with your sins."

"It is difficult to renounce the life of this world and it is even more difficult to renounce Paradise, but the dowry of Paradise is the renunciation of the life of this world."

Source: The life of this world is a transient shade

The characteristics of the believers

Yahya ibn Muadh (rahimahullah) gathered the characteristics of the believers in one of his essays as follows, "It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt. For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action. To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive. To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them. To be dignified and grateful. To be full of contentment if Allaah restricted some provision. To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers. To be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain. Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes. Not to sleep too much nor to be absent-minded, nor to show-off nor be hypocritical. Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, not servile. Loving for the sake of Allaah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake. His provision is taqwaa (reverential fear of Allaah). His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for the Afterlife."

Source: From the characteristics of the Salaf by Ahmed Fareed