Letter 59: (The reply to Basil's somewhat angry answer to the last.) This was a case which any wiser man would have foreseen; but I who am very simple and foolish did not fear it in writing to you. My letter grieved you; but in my opinion neither rightly nor justly, but quite unreasonably. And while you did not acknowledge that you were hurt, neither did y...

Gregory to Basil. This is a situation that any wiser man would have foreseen, but I -- simple and foolish as I am -- did not anticipate it when I wrote to you. My letter grieved you. In my judgment, it should not have, neither rightly nor justly. But I could see that you were hurt, even though you did not admit it directly. I know you, Basil, better than you know yourself. When you are wounded, your silence is louder than other men's shouts. But I will not apologize for telling you the truth. If your friend cannot speak honestly to you, who can? Still, I grieve that I have caused you pain, even unintentionally. And I offer you this: come to me, or let me come to you, and let us settle face to face what letters only make worse. Written words are treacherous things -- they carry the message but lose the tone.

Epistle 59. To Basil. (The reply to Basil's somewhat angry answer to the last.) This was a case which any wiser man would have foreseen; but I who am very simple and foolish did not fear it in writing to you. My letter grieved you; but in my opinion neither rightly nor justly, but quite unreasonably. And while you did not acknowledge that you were hurt, neither did you conceal it, or if you did it was with great skill, as with a mask, hiding your vexation under an appearance of respect. But as to myself if I acted in this deceitfully or maliciously, I shall be punished not more by your vexation than by the truth itself; but if in simplicity and with my accustomed goodwill, I will lay the blame on my own sins rather than on your temper. But it would have been better to have set this matter straight, rather than to be angry with those who offer you counsel. But you must see to your own affairs, inasmuch as you are quite capable of giving the same advice to others. You may look upon me as very ready, if God will, both to come to you, and to join you in the conflict, and to contribute all that I can. For who would flinch, who would not rather take courage in speaking and contending for the truth under you and by your side?