Letter 447: Even Hippocrates the physician, so the story goes, knowing that death was coming, wanted to improve the condition he...

To Maiion. If the reading of the book has profited you in any way, show it in your conduct. But if you persist in the very things which that book condemns, you plainly stand convicted by it. And in any case, say this to these people: we will neither utter a single word to you by letter, nor furnish you a book when you ask for one, unless we also behold the fruit of the former one.

Εἰ σέ τι ὤνησεν ἡ τῆς βίβλου ἀνάγνωσις, δεῖξον ἐπὶ τῆς πράξεως. Εἰ δὲ μένεις ἐφ’ ὧν ἐκείνη κατηγορεῖ, φαίνῃ καταγινώσκων αὐτῆς. Καὶ πάντως εἰπὲ τούτοις ἡμεῖς οὔτε φθεγξόμεθά τι πρὸς σὲ διὰ γράμματος, εἴτε βιβλίον αἰτοῦντι παράσχωμεν, εἰ μὴ καὶ τῆς προτέρας καρπὸν θεασώμεθα.