Letter 176: Even if you neglected your wife's brother while he was away -- failing, among other things, to so much as write to...

LibaniusStrategius|c. 330 AD|Libanius
education bookswomen

**To Strategius** (360 AD)

Even if you neglected your wife's brother while he was away — among other things, not even writing to him — at least now do what is proper toward such people. For perhaps one must pay attention even to those of lesser merit, on account of the obligation of kinship; but this man — to say nothing grand, though I could — would bring no disgrace upon your family.

I hear that your influence in the council rests more on your eloquence than on your expenditures. This delights me — that you hold such power. But that you do not report this to me yourself, I resent. For even the victories of Olympic champions are sweeter to hear from the lips of the victors themselves.

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