Letter 459: You asked me about the style of the blessed John [Chrysostom], and whether it represents genuine Attic Greek.

To Bishop Isidore: He who practices virtue would be justified in calling upon the divine assistance as well. But he who takes no care for virtue at all -- even if he should call, he will not find the divine responsive. For God graciously assents to the one who fulfills everything on his own part. And so that the argument may proceed through examples and make this plainer, passing over the statement: if a harlot wishes to be saved but does not wish to become chaste, how shall she be saved? I shall put it this way instead. Suppose someone desires to learn letters but does not attend a teacher; and then, encountering the teacher in the marketplace, he says: Make me learn letters. Would you not think that teacher would reply brilliantly, saying: Thunderstruck fool, how could you learn when you neither attend a teacher, nor possess a stylus and tablet, nor wish to toil? For if your desire were joined with effort and my diligence, something more would result. But if you say you desire it yet do none of the things that those who truly desire do, how will you be able to learn? Such also are those who claim to desire virtue but flee the road that leads to it.