Letter 64

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed person
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore attacks those who prefer Epicurean philosophy to Christian virtue.

Some people prefer Epicurus to Christ — and the reason is obvious, even if they will not admit it. Epicurus offered them permission to pursue pleasure without guilt. Christ demands self-denial and the cross. They do not admire Epicurus for his wisdom but for his convenience. Anyone who prefers a philosophy because it asks nothing of him has not chosen the truth — he has chosen comfort. And comfort, when it becomes your highest value, is simply a slower form of death.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.