Letter 299: I was aware, before you told me, that you do not like your employment in public affairs. It is an old saying that those who are anxious to lead a pious life do not throw themselves with pleasure into office. The case of magistrates seems to me like that of physicians.

I knew before you told me that you do not enjoy your public duties. It is an old observation that those who wish to lead a godly life do not throw themselves eagerly into office. The position of a magistrate is like that of a physician: they see terrible sights, encounter foul conditions, and draw trouble upon themselves from other people's misfortunes. This is at least the case with honest magistrates. All those who enter public life with an eye to personal profit -- who are excited by the prospect of influence and the ability to help their friends, punish their enemies, and advance their own interests -- you are not that kind of man. How could you be? You voluntarily withdrew from even a high position in government. You might have run the city like your own household, but you preferred a life free from anxiety. You placed a higher value on having no troubles and causing none to others than most people place on making themselves important. But it has pleased the Lord that the district of Ibora should not be in the hands of profiteers or turned into a slave market. It is His will that every individual be enrolled properly, as is right. Accept this responsibility. I know it is tiresome, but it is one that may bring you the approval of God and recognition among men. The task is not merely administrative. It is an act of justice. And justice, performed faithfully and without corruption, is never wasted in God's sight.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To a Censitor. I was aware, before you told me, that you do not like your employment in public affairs. It is an old saying that those who are anxious to lead a pious life do not throw themselves with pleasure into office. The case of magistrates seems to me like that of physicians. They see awful sights; they meet with bad smells; they get trouble for themselves out of other people's calamities. This is at least the case with those who are real magistrates. All men who are engaged in business, look also to make a profit, and are excited about this kind of glory, count it the greatest possible advantage to acquire some power and influence by which they may be able to benefit their friends, punish their enemies, and get what they want for themselves. You are not a man of this kind. How should you be? You have voluntarily withdrawn from even high office in the State. You might have ruled the city like one single house, but you have preferred a life free from care and anxiety. You have placed a higher value on having no troubles yourself and not troubling other people, than other people do on making themselves disagreeable. But it has seemed good to the Lord that the district of Ibora should not be under the power of hucksters, nor be turned into a mere slave market. It is His will that every individual in it should be enrolled, as is right. Do you therefore accept this responsibility? It is vexatious, I know, but it is one which may bring you the approbation of God. Neither fawn upon the great and powerful, nor despise the poor and needy. Show to all under your rule an impartiality of mind, balanced more exactly than any scales. Thus in the sight of those who have entrusted you with these responsibilities your zeal for justice will be made evident, and they will view you with exceptional admiration. And even though you go unnoticed by them, you will not be unnoticed by our God. The prizes which He has put before us for good works are great. 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/3202299.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.