Letter 46

To the same man. That which has been acquired with toil is by nature more firmly held, whereas that which has been acquired easily is also most quickly spat out, as being something that can again be taken away; so that the benefaction which is not lightly come by [literally, not ready-to-hand] is established rather as the strongest and most secure benefaction.

Τὸ μὲν πόνῳ κτηθὲν, μᾶλλον κρατεῖσθαι πέφυκεν, τὸ δὲ ῥᾳδίως κτηθὲν, καὶ ἀποπτύεσθαι τάχιστα, ὡς πάλιν ληφθῆναι δυνάμενον, ὥστε μᾶλλον εὐεργεσίᾳ κρατίστῃ, καὶ βεβαλᾷ καθίσταται τὸ μὴ πρόχειρον τῆς εὐεργεσίας.