II. (10) But since these men infect not only their fellow countrymen, but also all that come near them with folly, let them remain uncovered, being mutilated in that most indispensable of all the outward senses, namely, sight. I am speaking here not of the sight of the body, but of that of the soul, by which alone truth and falsehood are distinguished from one another. (11) But the therapeutic sect of mankind, being continually taught to see without interruption, may well aim at obtaining a sight of the living God, and may pass by the sun, which is visible to the outward sense, and never leave this order which conducts to perfect happiness. (12) But they who apply themselves to this kind of worship, not because they are influenced to do so by custom, nor by the advice or recommendation of any particular persons, but because they are carried away by a certain heavenly love, give way to enthusiasm, behaving like so many revellers in bacchanalian or corybantian mysteries, until they see the object which they have been earnestly desiring. (13) Then, because of their anxious desire for an immortal and blessed existence, thinking that their mortal life has already come to an end, they leave their possessions to their sons or daughters, or perhaps to other relations, giving them up their inheritance with willing cheerfulness; and those who know no relations give their property to their companions or friends, for it followed of necessity that those who have acquired the wealth which sees, as if ready prepared for them, should be willing to surrender that wealth which is blind to those who themselves also are still blind in their minds. (14) The Greeks celebrate Anaxagoras and Democritus, because they, being smitten with a desire for philosophy, allowed all their estates to be devoured by cattle. I myself admire the men who thus showed themselves superior to the attractions of money; but how much better were those who have not permitted cattle to devour their possessions, but have supplied the necessities of mankind, of their own relations and friends, and have made them rich though they were poor before? For surely that was inconsiderate conduct (that I may avoid saying that any action of men whom Greece has agreed to admire was a piece of insanity); but this is the act of sober men, and one which has been carefully elaborated by exceeding prudence. (15) For what more can enemies do than ravage, and destroy, and cut down all the trees in the country of their antagonists, that they may be forced to submit by reason of the extent to which they are oppressed by want of necessaries? And yet Democritus did this to his own blood relations, inflicting artificial want and penury upon them, not perhaps from any hostile intention towards them, but because he did not foresee and provide for what was advantageous to others. (16) How much better and more admirable are they who, without having any inferior eagerness for the attainment of philosophy, have nevertheless preferred magnanimity to carelessness, and, giving presents from their possessions instead of destroying them, so as to be able to benefit others and themselves also, have made others happy by imparting to them of the abundance of their wealth, and themselves by the study of philosophy? For an undue care for money and wealth causes great waste of time, and it is proper to economise time, since, according to the saying of the celebrated physician Hippocrates, life is short but art long. (17) And this is what Homer appears to me to imply figuratively in the Iliad, at the beginning of the thirteenth book, by the following lines, —
LIBRARY
HOMER
HESIOD
ORPHICA
ARCHILOCHUS
SAPPHO
ALCAEUS
ANAXIMANDER
XENOPHANES
HERACLITUS
PARMENIDES
EMPEDOCLES
ANAXAGORAS
AESCHYLUS
SOPHOCLES
EURIPIDES
THUCYDIDES
HERODOTUS
ARISTOPHANES
PLATO
ARISTOTLE
HESIOD
ORPHICA
ARCHILOCHUS
SAPPHO
ALCAEUS
ANAXIMANDER
XENOPHANES
HERACLITUS
PARMENIDES
EMPEDOCLES
ANAXAGORAS
AESCHYLUS
SOPHOCLES
EURIPIDES
THUCYDIDES
HERODOTUS
ARISTOPHANES
PLATO
ARISTOTLE
PHILO
EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS
IGNATIUS THEOPHORUS
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
ORIGEN
PLOTINUS
ATHANASIUS THE GREAT
GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN
BASIL THE GREAT
GREGORY OF NYSSA
MACARIUS THE GREAT
ECUMENICAL SYNODS : THESYMBOL OF FAITH
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
PROCLUS
ROMANOS MELODOS
DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE
MAXIMUS CONFESSOR
PETER DAMASCENE
SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN
GREGORY PALAMAS
NICHOLAS CABASILAS
MANUEL II PALAEOLOGUS
GENNADIUS SCHOLARIUS
DIONYSIOS SOLOMOS
CAVAFY
PAPATSONIS
EPISTLE TO DIOGNETUS
IGNATIUS THEOPHORUS
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
ORIGEN
PLOTINUS
ATHANASIUS THE GREAT
GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN
BASIL THE GREAT
GREGORY OF NYSSA
MACARIUS THE GREAT
ECUMENICAL SYNODS : THESYMBOL OF FAITH
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
PROCLUS
ROMANOS MELODOS
DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE
MAXIMUS CONFESSOR
PETER DAMASCENE
SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN
GREGORY PALAMAS
NICHOLAS CABASILAS
MANUEL II PALAEOLOGUS
GENNADIUS SCHOLARIUS
DIONYSIOS SOLOMOS
CAVAFY
PAPATSONIS
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