Letter 531

To Lucian, the Christian Sophist [a teacher and master of rhetoric]. We must not give the imaginings that arise from the reasonings of things whose nature it is to do harm any passage into the mind, lest we bring back to life the passions that have been mortified through diligent care, and again pass our life in agonizing struggle. For the mind readily inclines again toward the passions that were cast out long ago, and tips the scale-pan of pleasures down to the very ground. For such is the condition of virtue: it is something quick to tip, and, if it is neglected, swings over to the opposite side all too easily.

Οὐ χρὴ πάροδον διδόναι ἐπὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ταῖς τῶν βλάπτειν πεφυκότων λογισμῶν φαντασίαις, ἵνα μὴ ζωοποιήσωμεν τὰ ἐξ ἐπιμελείας νενεκρωμένα πάθη, καὶ πάλιν ἐναγώνιον διαγάγωμεν βίον. Εὐχερῶς γὰρ πάλιν διάνοια ῥέπει πρὸς τὰ πρὸ χρόνου ἐκβεβλημένα πάθη, καὶ τὴν τῶν ἡδονῶν πλάστιγγα ἐπιρρίθει μέχρις ἐδάφους. Τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ ἕξις τῆς ἀρετῆς, ὀξυρρεπής τίς ἐστι, καὶ ἄγαν εὐκόλως, εἰ ἀμελοῖτο, ταλαντεύουσα ἐπὶ τὰ ἐναντία.