Letter 24: That one of the things hardest to achieve, if indeed it be not impossible, is to rise superior to calumny, I am myself fully persuaded, and so too, I presume, is your excellency. Yet not to give a handle by one's own conduct, either to inquisitive critics of society, or to mischief makers who lie in wait to catch us tripping, is not only possibl...

From: Basil of Caesarea To: Athanasius, father of Athanasius, Bishop of Ancyra [modern Ankara, Turkey] Date: ~365 AD Context: Basil gently rebukes an older man — a former provincial governor — for conduct that has given enemies grounds for slander, while defending one accused of being the informant. I am myself fully convinced — and I expect you are too — that rising above slander is one of the hardest things to achieve, if it is even possible. Yet it is possible, and it is characteristic of those who order their lives wisely to avoid giving a handle to either nosy critics or troublemakers lying in wait. Do not think me naive enough to accept disparaging remarks about anyone without proper investigation. I keep in mind the Spirit's warning: "You shall not receive a false report" (Exodus 23:1). But you learned men yourselves say that the visible is a sign of the invisible. So I ask — and please don't take this the wrong way if it sounds like I'm overstepping — what I say and urge is this: that in both word and deed we act with careful attention to what is right, and give offense in nothing, as the apostle says (2 Corinthians 6:3). The life of a man who has worked hard to acquire learning, who has governed cities and provinces, and who is proud of his ancestry, ought itself to be an example of high character. You should not be showing your affection for your children in words alone, as you have done ever since you became a father. You should not limit yourself to the natural affection shared even by animals — as you yourself have acknowledged. You should make your love go further: all the more personal and deliberate because you can see that your children are worthy of a father's prayers. On this point I need no convincing; the evidence of facts is enough. But one thing I will say for the sake of truth: it is not our brother Timotheus, the rural bishop, who has brought me word of what is being said about you. Neither in person nor by letter has he ever passed along any slander, great or small. That I have heard something I do not deny, but Timotheus is not your accuser. And whatever I hear, I will follow Alexander's example and keep one ear open for the defense.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra. That one of the things hardest to achieve, if indeed it be not impossible, is to rise superior to calumny, I am myself fully persuaded, and so too, I presume, is your excellency. Yet not to give a handle by one's own conduct, either to inquisitive critics of society, or to mischief makers who lie in wait to catch us tripping, is not only possible, but is the special characteristic of all who order their lives wisely and according to the rule of true religion. And do not think me so simple and credulous as to accept depreciatory remarks from any one without due investigation. I bear in mind the admonition of the Spirit, You shall not receive a false report. But you, learned men, yourselves say that The seen is significant of the unseen. I therefore beg —(and pray do not take it ill if I seem to be speaking as though I were giving a lesson; for God has chosen the weak and despised things of the world, 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 and often by their means brings about the salvation of such as are being saved); what I say and urge is this; that by word and deed we act with scrupulous attention to propriety, and, in accordance with the apostolic precept, give no offense in anything. 2 Corinthians 6:3 The life of one who has toiled hard in the acquisition of knowledge, who has governed cities and states, and who is jealous of the high character of his forefathers, ought to be an example of high character itself. You ought not now to be exhibiting your disposition towards your children in word only, as you have long exhibited its ever since you became a father; you ought not only to show that natural affection which is shown by brutes, as you yourself have said, and as experience shows. You ought to make your love go further, and be a love all the more personal and voluntary in that you see your children worthy of a father's prayers. On this point I do not need to be convinced. The evidence of facts is enough. One thing, however, I will say for truth's sake, that it is not our brother Timotheus, the Chorepiscopus, who has brought me word of what is reported abroad. For neither by word of mouth nor by letter has he ever conveyed anything in the shape of slander, be it small or great. That I have heard something I do not deny, but it is not Timotheus who accuses you. Yet while I hear whatever I do, at least I will follow the example of Alexander, and will keep one ear clear for the accused. About this page 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/3202024.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.