Letter 17: Procopius tells Philip that good men must not make neglect look acceptable.

Again letters from me, and again silence from you. I am afraid you may even condemn me for babbling. Since you are wholly silent, anyone who speaks at all seems to you a babbler. But if, while absent, you overlook your friends, then all absent people have only silence left. Become that former man again and speak to me. Good men, when they fail to do what is fitting, become examples for people who want to do wrong. I would like you to bear the mark of a man who would never overlook what is fitting, whatever happens. As for the matter written to you, show yourselves so earnest that you finish it. I hesitate to say that I want even more eagerness from you, for in return for many favors we are paying this one favor to the man who needs the matter.

Φιλίππωι ἀδελφῶι Πάλιν γράμματα παρ' ἡμῶν καὶ πάλιν τῶν σιωπώντων ὑμεῖς. καὶ δέδοικα μὴ καὶ φλυαρίαν ἡμῶν τινα καταγνῷς. παντελῶς γὰρ σιγῶν καὶ τοὺς ὁπωσοῦν λαλοῦντας φλυάρους εἶναι δοκεῖς. εἰ δὲ σὺ τοὺς φίλους ἀπὼν παρορᾷς, πᾶσι τοῖς ἀποῦσι λείπεται τὸ σιγᾶν. οὐκοῦν γενοῦ πάλιν ἐκεῖνος καὶ φθέγγου πρὸς ἡμᾶς· οἱ γὰρ ἀγαθοὶ μὴ τὸ προσῆκον ποιοῦντες παράδειγμα πρόκεινται τοῖς πλημμελεῖν βουλομένοις. σὲ δ' ἂν βουλοίμην καὶ γνώρισμα φέρειν ἀνδρὸς μηδ' ἂν εἴ τι γένοιτο τῶν προσηκόντων ὑπερορῶντος. πρὸς δὲ τὴν χρείαν τὴν ὑμῖν γραφεῖσαν οὕτω σπουδαίους ἑαυτοὺς ἐπιδείξατε, ὡς ὑμῖν ταύτην ἀνύοντες. ὀκνῶ γὰρ εἰπεῖν ὡς καὶ πλείονα τὴν προθυμίαν γενέσθαι βούλομαι παρ' ὑμῶν. ἀντὶ γὰρ πλείστων χαρίτων μίαν ταύτην ἐκτίνομεν τῷ δεομένῳ τῆς χρείας.