Letter 277: The excellent Theotecnus has given mean account of your highness, whereby he has inspired me with a longing for your acquaintance, so clearly do his words delineate the character of your mind. He has enkindled in me so ardent an affection for you, that were it not that I am weighed down with age, that I am the victim of a congenital ailment, tha...

The excellent Theotecnus has given me such an account of you that he has kindled in me a real longing to make your acquaintance -- so vividly did his words paint the character of your mind. He has stirred in me so warm an affection that, were it not for my age, my chronic illness, and the innumerable cares of the Church that bind me hand and foot, nothing would have stopped me from coming to you in person. It is no small thing that a man of a great house and illustrious lineage, in adopting the life of the Gospel, should bridle the impulses of youth by reflection and subject bodily passions to reason -- displaying a humility consistent with his Christian profession, remembering where he has come from and where he is going. It is precisely this awareness of our nature that deflates the swelling of the mind and banishes all arrogance. In a word, it makes a man a disciple of our Lord, who said: "Learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." And in truth, dear son, the only thing that deserves our effort and praise is our eternal welfare -- the honor that comes from God. Human affairs are fainter than a shadow, more deceptive than a dream. Youth fades faster than spring flowers. Our beauty wastes with age or sickness. Riches are uncertain. Glory is fickle. The pursuit of earthly arts is bounded by this present life. But the practice of virtue is a precious possession for its owner, a thing of beauty in the sight of God, a treasure that does not grow old. Fix your mind on these things, and you will not go wrong.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the learned Maximus. The excellent Theotecnus has given mean account of your highness, whereby he has inspired me with a longing for your acquaintance, so clearly do his words delineate the character of your mind. He has enkindled in me so ardent an affection for you, that were it not that I am weighed down with age, that I am the victim of a congenital ailment, that I am bound hand and foot by the numberless cares of the Church, nothing would have hindered my coming to you. For indeed it is no small gain that a member of a great house, a man of illustrious lineage, in adopting the life of the gospel, should bridle the propensities of youth by reflection, and subject to reason the affections of the flesh; should display a humility consistent with his Christian profession, bethinking himself, as is his duty, whence he has come and whither he is going. For it is this consideration of our nature that reduces the swelling of the mind, and banishes all boastfulness and arrogance. In a word it renders one a disciple of our Lord, Who said, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. Matthew 11:29 And in truth, very dear son, the only thing that deserves our exertions and praises is our everlasting welfare; and this is the honour that comes from God. Human affairs are fainter than a shadow; more deceitful than a dream. Youth fades more quickly than the flowers of spring; our beauty wastes with age or sickness. Riches are uncertain; glory is fickle. The pursuit of arts and sciences is bounded by the present life; the charm of eloquence, which all covet, reaches but the ear: whereas the practice of virtue is a precious possession for its owner, a delightful spectacle for all who witness it. Make this your study; so will you be worthy of the good things promised by the Lord. But a recital of the means whereby to make the acquisition, and secure the enjoyment of these blessings, lies beyond the intention of this present letter. Thus much however, after what I heard from my brother Theotecnus, it occurred to me to write to you. I pray that he may always speak the truth, especially in his accounts of you; that the Lord may be the more glorified in you, abounding as you do in the most precious fruits of piety, although derived from a foreign root. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202277.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.