Letter 49: Epistle 49. To Basil. (The Praises of Quiet.) You accuse me of laziness and idleness, because I did not accept your Sasima, and because I have not bestirred myself like a Bishop, and do not arm you against each other like a bone thrown into the midst of dogs.

You accuse me of laziness and idleness because I didn't accept your Sasima, because I haven't stirred myself into action like a proper bishop, because I don't arm you against your rivals like a bone thrown among dogs. My greatest business has always been to keep free from business. And to give you an idea of one of my finer qualities: I value freedom from business so highly that I think I could serve as a standard for all men of this kind of heroic inactivity. If everyone would follow my example, the churches would have no troubles — and the faith, which everyone uses as a weapon in their private quarrels, would stop being torn to pieces.

Epistle 49. To Basil. (The Praises of Quiet.) You accuse me of laziness and idleness, because I did not accept your Sasima, and because I have not bestirred myself like a Bishop, and do not arm you against each other like a bone thrown into the midst of dogs. My greatest business always is to keep free from business. And to give you an idea of one of my good points, so much do I value freedom from business, that I think I might even be a standard to all men of this kind of magnanimity, and if only all men would imitate me the Churches would have no troubles; nor would the faith, which every one uses as a weapon in his private quarrels, be pulled in pieces.