Letter 496: I wrote to you before about the proper use of legal knowledge, Theodosius.
To Theodosios the Scholastic. On truth. The one who departs from the truth at the beginning will assuredly be rolled away from his proposed goal and will come to a shameful end. For testimonies from enemies are more trustworthy — this observation has great force for establishing the truth, since what is conceded even by ones adversaries serves as the most compelling proof.
To Zosimos and Maron. Some say that not even Metrodorus the Epicurean so thoroughly confirmed through his actions the doctrines of Epicurus — who was banished by all the wise — as your wretched trio has done. If then they speak the truth, cease from your licentiousness. But if not, hold fast to temperance.
To Theodosios the Bishop. I hesitate to speak, lest I seem to flatter — for I consider flattery the most shameful of all subtle passions. But I shall speak, compelled by the truth: that no one, as I believe, or rather as I am firmly convinced, could attain to your excellences, not even with ten tongues and ten mouths and an inexhaustible power of speech.
To Dionysios the Presbyter. The one who, knowing no good, lives in wickedness is worthy of forgiveness, since he either did not know or could not know what was right, and so is not culpable. But the one who, after many experiences of virtue, falls away is properly to be condemned, as one who knows the best course yet provides the worst.
To Martinianos. On avarice. The love of bodies, if assailed by sickness and old age, is extinguished — although these afflictions may make it more intense for a time. For as the body fades, desire too fades, and satiety naturally follows. But the love of money no one has ever been able to extinguish, whether through age or through sickness. The reason for this is that this love possesses no inherent limit — for it can neither be satisfied, since like the legendary hydra, through whose many and unslaked mouths foods pass into its insatiable belly without ever producing fullness, nor does it grow weary. Even when possessed of a hundred talents it has the appearance of something that is perishing, yet it proves insatiable. It has a limit, but it cannot be sated or filled. How then could anyone tame or restrain such a monster?
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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