Letter 320: When I recommend someone, I do so carefully, because a recommendation is a form of promise -- it pledges my own...

To Alypius. (358) On account of the greatness of your office I count you blessed; on account of the virtue with which you govern I commend you. I say this is a credit to our city, from which you have your knowledge of governing, since rhetoric comes from her, and an honor to the city that taught you is the student who learned.

Ἀλυπίῳ. (358) Διὰ μὲν τὸ μέγεθος τῆς ἀρχῆς εὐδαιμονίζω σε, διὰ δὲ τὴν ἀρετὴν μεθ’ ἧς ἄρχεις ἐπαινῶ. καί φημι μὲν τοῦτο κέρ- σος εἶναι τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ, παρ’ ἧς ἔχεις τὸ ἐπίστασθαι ἄρχειν, εἴπερ ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν λόγων ἐκεῖνο, παρὰ δὲ ταύτης οἱ λόγοι, τῇ διδαξάσῃ δὲ κόσμος ὁ μαθών, πολὸ δ’ ἂν αὐτῇ καλλίω τὰ τροφεῖα γενέσθαι, εἰ τὴν πρόνοιαν εἰς αὐτὴν καταθεῖο λαχὼν ἄρχειν αὐτῆς. ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ἀπαιτήσομεν τὴν Τύχην, καὶ δώσει γε, ἂν τὰ δίκαια ποιῇ· τὸν δ’ Ἱεροκλέα σοι τρέφομεν ἀμείνω μὲν ἥκιστα τοῦ πατρός, ἴσον δὲ ἴσως τῷ πα- τρί. καίτοι σχίζεταί γε ἡ σπουδὴ τῷ νέῳ περί τε τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ τὸ τῆς χειρὸς ἔργον, ἀλλ’ ὅμως ἐστὶν ὀξὺς ἀμφότερα, ὧν τὸ μὲν ἄλλοις ἐγὼ λέγω, τὸ δὲ παρ’ ἄλλων ἀκούω.