Letter 1525
Isidore of Pelusium→Unknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: Proclus
Date: ~410 AD
Context: On choosing the right models to imitate — the virtuous, not those who darken others.
Those who stand strongest in virtue, who surpass others in piety and sound judgment, and who excel their neighbors as the morning star surpasses the lesser stars — these men rightly deserve to be called luminaries. They have raised themselves to such a height not for their own benefit alone, but to give light to those walking in darkness and to lead them by the hand toward virtue's summit.
These are the men you should emulate. Not those who do everything in their power to darken even the eyes of those who observe them. The choice is plain: follow the ones who shine, not the ones who snuff out the light.
ἘΡΙΘΤΟΙΛΆΌΜ .. -- ἘΡΙΘΤ. ΟΧΙ]!. ΕΙΣ. -- ΡΠΙΚΕΤΆΙΟ, γ γίμιε ἱπεῖσηοε ἱπιδαπαϊ. Οοη[. ἐρὶει. , ἐπίεἴο. Οἱ χατ᾿ ἀρετὴν χράτιστοι ὄντες, χαὶ δι᾽ εὐσέδειαν ὑπερφέροντες χαὶ ἔγχριτοι, καὶ τοσοῦτον τοὺς ἄλλους ὑπερδαίνοντες, ὅσον ὁ ἑωσφόρος τοὺς ἄλλους ἀστέ- ρας, οὗτοι φωστῆρες ἂν εἰχότως χρηματίζοιεν, μὴ μόνον ἑαυτοὺς εἰς τοσαύτην ἀναγαγόντες ἀξίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς τνφλώττοντας φωτίζοντες, χαὶ εἰς τὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς χειραγωγοῦντες περιωπήν. Τούτους τοίνυν ζήλου, χαὶ μὴ τοὺς πάντα ποιοῦντας, ὅπως καὶ τοὺς ὁρῶντας σχοτίσοιεν. ΡΙ'. -“ΑΡΠΟΚΡΑᾺ ΣΟΦΙΣΤΗ. ρυΐϊ νἱγίυϊα ργαβίδηί ρίοίϑίο δι: ( ] υπἱ, ΘΧΊΓἃ οἴἠποη [ἶοϊ! βυηι 2168πη), (Δηιυπηαυδ οὐ .6Υ] δηίο6- ουηΐϊ, φυδηῖυπι οδδιθγ 8ι6 δχοθ ΡΠ ΟΒΡΙΟΡΙΒ οἰδυίίδίθ, υἱ ἢ] πιδγίιο . Δρρϑὶγὶ φυδϑηὶ, - ἦρδοδ ποὴ πηοὐο ργουθι)θηῖο8 ἀἰφηδιϊοιβ, οἱ εἰοῖβ [υπλθη δυο η(, Εἰ ἰη νἱγίυ δροου]διῃ πιδηυ ἀυοδδίεβ, ἤο5 ἰἰδᾳυθ ἰαιἰαγΓα, ΒΟη ἐ08, 4υὶ ουποίδ δὶς δρυϑὶ, υἱ οἱ νυἱάδιιεβ ὀχοδοδγο ροδϑίηϊ.
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From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: Proclus
Date: ~410 AD
Context: On choosing the right models to imitate — the virtuous, not those who darken others.
Those who stand strongest in virtue, who surpass others in piety and sound judgment, and who excel their neighbors as the morning star surpasses the lesser stars — these men rightly deserve to be called luminaries. They have raised themselves to such a height not for their own benefit alone, but to give light to those walking in darkness and to lead them by the hand toward virtue's summit.
These are the men you should emulate. Not those who do everything in their power to darken even the eyes of those who observe them. The choice is plain: follow the ones who shine, not the ones who snuff out the light.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.