Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Andronicus, a general|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
education booksfriendshipgrief deathillness
From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: General Zeno
Date: ~440 AD
Context: A letter of consolation to a grieving military commander, urging him to overcome sorrow through philosophical reflection on human nature and divine providence.
To the General Zeno,
To be struck by the misfortunes common to our nature is the lot of every person. To endure them bravely and rise above their assault is no longer common -- it belongs to those with resolution. This is why we admire the philosophers who chose the noblest course of life and conquered their sorrows through wisdom. And philosophy is the work of our power of reason, which governs the passions rather than being dragged about by them.
Grief is one of these human ills, and it is grief I urge your excellency to overcome. It will not be difficult for you to rise victorious over this feeling if you reflect on two things: human nature itself, and the uselessness of sorrow. For what good does it do the departed if we wail and grieve?
When you remember his noble birth, the long years of your friendship, his distinguished military service, and his celebrated achievements -- reflect also that the man adorned by all these things was, like all of us, subject to the law of death. Reflect further that everything is ordained by God, who guides human affairs according to his sacred knowledge of what will serve our good.
I have written what the limits of a letter allow. But I earnestly ask your eminence, for all our sakes, to take care of your health. Health is sustained by good spirits and destroyed by despondency. It is out of concern for all of us who depend on you that I have written this letter.
Letter 65
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To the General Zeno.
To be smitten by human ills is the common lot of all men; to endure them bravely and rise superior to their attack is no longer common. The former is of human nature; the latter depends upon resolution. It is on this account that we wonder how the philosophers resolved on the noblest course of life and conquered their calamities by wisdom. And philosophy is produced by our reason's power, which rules our passions and is not led to and fro by them. Now one of human ills is grief, and it is this which we exhort your excellency to overcome, and it will not be difficult for you to rise victorious over this feeling, if you consider human nature, and take to heart the uselessness of sorrow. For what gain will it be to the departed that we should wail and lament? When, however, we reflect upon the common birth, the long years of intercourse, the splendid service in the field, and the far-famed achievements, let us reflect that he who was adorned by them was a man subject to the law of death; that moreover all things are ordained by God, who guides the affairs of men in accordance with His sacred knowledge of what will be for their good. Thus have I written so far as the limits of a letter would allow me, beseeching your eminence for all our sakes to preserve your health, which is wont to be maintained by cheerfulness and ruined by despondency. Wherefore in my care for the advantage of us all I have penned this letter.
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From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:General Zeno
Date:~440 AD
Context:A letter of consolation to a grieving military commander, urging him to overcome sorrow through philosophical reflection on human nature and divine providence.
To the General Zeno,
To be struck by the misfortunes common to our nature is the lot of every person. To endure them bravely and rise above their assault is no longer common -- it belongs to those with resolution. This is why we admire the philosophers who chose the noblest course of life and conquered their sorrows through wisdom. And philosophy is the work of our power of reason, which governs the passions rather than being dragged about by them.
Grief is one of these human ills, and it is grief I urge your excellency to overcome. It will not be difficult for you to rise victorious over this feeling if you reflect on two things: human nature itself, and the uselessness of sorrow. For what good does it do the departed if we wail and grieve?
When you remember his noble birth, the long years of your friendship, his distinguished military service, and his celebrated achievements -- reflect also that the man adorned by all these things was, like all of us, subject to the law of death. Reflect further that everything is ordained by God, who guides human affairs according to his sacred knowledge of what will serve our good.
I have written what the limits of a letter allow. But I earnestly ask your eminence, for all our sakes, to take care of your health. Health is sustained by good spirits and destroyed by despondency. It is out of concern for all of us who depend on you that I have written this letter.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.