Letter 108: Almost every other passion, Prohairesios, has a peak, knows a decline, and understands satiety.

Wise are those who delve into the Scriptures, but more insatiable are those who misuse the tears of the poor. The former should be educated, the latter disciplined by threat. The understanding of the Scriptures, when left in ignorance, is profitable chiefly in this: it forbids the evil deeds that dominate us. It is a lamp even to those who cannot fully read its light.

scholasticos[11]? On the living Word. You have in your possession, I am informed, a collection of discourses which delight the ear, but which do not nourish the soul. You are in need of the Living Word, which he who lacks is a (mere) sounding brass [12]. If then you acquire this, it is a sweet-sounding instrument for God and well – tuned for men.

ΜΑ΄. – ΕΥΛΑΛΙΩ. Σοφοὶ μὲν οἱ σκαλεῦντες τὰ τῆς γραφῆς, ἀπληστότεροι δὲ οἱ καταχρώμενοι τοῖς τῶν πένητων δακρύοις, ἀλλὰ τοὺς μὲν παιδεύειν πειρατέον, τοὺς δὲ δι᾽ ἀπειλῆς σωφρονί- ζειν. Ἐπωφελὴς δὲ τῶν γραφῶν ἡ σύνεσις, ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ καταλειφθεισῶν, τὸ καλῶς τὰς κατεχούσας ἀπαγορεύειν πράξεις. Ὡς οὖν τὴν ἀσέλγειαν καθυβρίσας, ἀπαγόρευε τὰς τῶν φαύλων ἀθεμίτους πράξεις, καὶ τὴν τῆς πολιτείας καλλωπίζε λαμπρότητα. ΡΗ'. – ΠΡΟΑΙΡΕΣΙΩ ΣΧΟΛΑΣΤΙΚΟ. Περὶ τοῦ ζῶντος λόγου. Λόγων ἔχεις συναγωγὴν, ὡς μανθάνω, ἀκοὴν μὲν τερπόντων, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν οὐ τρεφόντων. Λόγου δὲ τοῦ ζῶντός σοι δεῖ, οὗ ὁ χηρεύων κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον ἐστίν. Εἰ τοίνυν ἐκεῖνον προσλάβοις, ὄργανον ἔσῃ ἠδύφθογγον καὶ Θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις εὐάρμοστον. ΝΗ΄. – ΔΙΟΣΚΟΡΩ ΚΟΜΙΤΙ ΡΟΕ΄. – ΚΟΜΙΤΙ Ἔφη τις ἀδυνατεῖν τῇ ὀργῇ κρείττων γενέσθαι.