Letter 186: Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this, that it even heals its disciples at small cost; for, in philosophy, the same thing is both dainty and healthy fare. I am told that you have recovered your failing appetite by pickled cabbage. Formerly I used to dislike it, both on account of the proverb, and because it reminded me of the pover...
Basil of Caesarea→Antipater, on assuming governorship of Cappadocia|c. 368 AD|basil caesarea
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From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea
To: Antipater, Governor of Cappadocia
Date: ~368 AD
Context: A delightfully playful letter congratulating the governor on his recovery, achieved (to Basil's amusement) through the medicinal powers of pickled cabbage.
Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this: it heals its students cheaply. In philosophy, the same dish is both a delicacy and good medicine.
I am told that you have restored your failing appetite with pickled cabbage. I used to look down on the stuff -- partly because of the proverb [a Greek proverb about cabbage being a sign of poverty], and partly because it reminded me of the poverty that came with it. But now I am forced to change my mind. I laugh at the proverb when I see that cabbage is such a fine nursemaid of men, and has restored our governor to the vigor of youth.
From now on I shall think nothing compares to cabbage -- not Homer's lotus, not even that ambrosia, whatever it was, that fed the gods on Olympus.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Antipater, the governor.
Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this, that it even heals its disciples at small cost; for, in philosophy, the same thing is both dainty and healthy fare. I am told that you have recovered your failing appetite by pickled cabbage. Formerly I used to dislike it, both on account of the proverb, and because it reminded me of the poverty that went with it. Now, however, I am driven to change my mind. I laugh at the proverb when I see that cabbage is such a good nursing mother of men, and has restored our governor to the vigour of youth. For the future I shall think nothing like cabbage, not even Homer's lotus, not even that ambrosia, whatever it was, which fed the Olympians.
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Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202186.htm>.
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From:Basil, Bishop of Caesarea
To:Antipater, Governor of Cappadocia
Date:~368 AD
Context:A delightfully playful letter congratulating the governor on his recovery, achieved (to Basil's amusement) through the medicinal powers of pickled cabbage.
Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this: it heals its students cheaply. In philosophy, the same dish is both a delicacy and good medicine.
I am told that you have restored your failing appetite with pickled cabbage. I used to look down on the stuff -- partly because of the proverb [a Greek proverb about cabbage being a sign of poverty], and partly because it reminded me of the poverty that came with it. But now I am forced to change my mind. I laugh at the proverb when I see that cabbage is such a fine nursemaid of men, and has restored our governor to the vigor of youth.
From now on I shall think nothing compares to cabbage -- not Homer's lotus, not even that ambrosia, whatever it was, that fed the gods on Olympus.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.