Letter 63: The wise man, even if he dwells far away, even if I never set eyes on him, I count a friend. So says the tragedian Euripides. And so, if, though I have never had the pleasure of meeting your excellency in person, I speak of myself as a familiar friend, pray do not set this down to mere empty compliment.

To the Governor of Neocaesarea [modern Niksar, in northern Turkey], Euripides said that a wise man can be counted a friend even if he lives far away and you've never met him. I feel the same way about you. Even though we haven't met in person, I already think of you as a friend — and I don't say that as empty flattery. Your reputation for generosity and goodwill precedes you. And ever since I met the estimable Elpidius, I feel I know you personally. He couldn't stop talking about you — your magnanimity, your high-mindedness, your gentle manner, your sharp mind, your ability to be dignified and cheerful at the same time, your eloquence. He went on so long I couldn't possibly fit it all into a letter. How could I not admire someone like that? So please accept this greeting for what it is: genuine friendship, not political courtesy. I have no patience for flattery. Keep me on your list of friends, and write to me often — your letters are the next best thing to your company.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Governor of Neocæsarea. The wise man, even if he dwells far away, even if I never set eyes on him, I count a friend. So says the tragedian Euripides. And so, if, though I have never had the pleasure of meeting your excellency in person, I speak of myself as a familiar friend, pray do not set this down to mere empty compliment. Common report, which loudly proclaims your universal benevolence, is, in this instance, the promoter of friendship. Indeed since I met the highly respectable Elpidius, I have known you as well, and I have been as completely captured by you, as though I had long lived with you and had practical experience of your excellent qualities. For he did not cease telling me about you, mentioning one by one your magnanimity, your exalted sentiments, your mild manners, your skill in business, intelligence, dignity tempered by cheerfulness, and eloquence. All the other points that he enumerated in his long conversation with me it is impossible for me to write to you, without extending my letter beyond all reasonable bounds. How can I fail to love such a man? How could I put such restraint upon myself as not loudly to proclaim what I feel? Accept then, most excellent Sir, the greeting which I send you, for it is inspired by true and unfeigned friendship. I abhor all servile compliment. Pray keep me enrolled in the list of your friends, and, by frequently writing to me, bring yourself before me and comfort me in your absence.

[Πρός: Ἡγεμόνι Νεοκαισαρείας] Τὸν σοφὸν ἄνδρα, κἂν ἑκὰς ναίῃ χθονός, κἂν μήποτʼ αὐτὸν ὄσσοις προσίδω, κρίνω φίλον· Εὐριπίδου ἐστὶ τοῦ τραγικοῦ λόγος. ὥστε, εἰ, μήπω τῆς κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμῖν συντυχίας τὴν γνῶσίν σου τῆς μεγαλοφυΐας χαρισαμένης, φαμὲν εἶναι φίλοι σου καὶ συνήθεις, μὴ κολακείαν εἶναι τὸν λόγον κρίνῃς. ἔχομεν γὰρ φήμην πρόξενον τῆς φιλίας, μεγαλοφώνως τὰ σὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις συμβοῶσαν. ἀφʼ οὗ μέντοι καὶ τῷ αἰδεσιμωτάτῳ Ἐλπιδίῳ συνετύχομεν, τοσοῦτόν σε ἐγνωρίσαμεν, καὶ οὕτω κατʼ ἄκρας ἑαλώκαμέν σου, ὡσανεὶ πολὺν χρόνον συγγεγονότες, καὶ διὰ μακρᾶς τῆς πείρας τῶν ἐν σοὶ καλῶν τὴν γνῶσιν ἔχοντες. οὐ γὰρ ἐπαύσατο ὁ ἀνὴρ ἕκαστα ἡμῖν τῶν περὶ σὲ διηγούμενος, το μεγαλοπρεπὲς τῆς ψυχῆς, τοῦ φρονήματος τὸ ἀνάστημα, τῶν τρόπων τὴν ἡμερότητα, ἐμπειρίαν πραγμάτων, σύνεσιν γνώμης, σεμνότητα βίου φαιδρότητι κεκραμένην, λόγου δύναμιν, τἄλλα ὅσα αὐτὸς μὲν διὰ πολλῆς τῆς πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὁμιλίας ἀπηριθμήσατο, ἡμῖν δὲ γράφειν οὐκ ἦν δυνατόν, ἵνα μὴ ἔξω τοῦ μέτρου τὴν ἐπιστολὴν προαγάγωμεν. πῶς οὖν οὐκ ἔμελλον ἀγαπᾷν τὸν τοιοῦτον; πῶς γοῦν ἠδυνάμην ἐμαυτοῦ κρατῆσαι, πρὸς τὸ μὴ οὐχὶ καὶ ἐκβοῶν τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ἐμαυτοῦ πάθος διασημαίνειν; Δέχου τοίνυν τὴν προσηγορίαν, ὦ θαυμάσιε, ἐκ φιλίας ἀληθινῆς καὶ ἀδόλου σοι προσαγομένην· πόρρω γὰρ θωπείας δουλοπρεποῦς τὰ ἡμέτερα· καὶ ἔχε ἡμᾶς τῷ καταλόγῳ τῶν σεαυτοῦ φίλων ἐναριθμίους, γράμμασι συνεχέσι σαυτόν τε δεικνὺς καὶ παραμυθούμενος τὴν ἀπόλειψιν.