Letter 648

To Eleutherius. How are you not ashamed, when you call self-controlled and wise the followers of Diogenes [the Cynic philosopher], and Pythagoras, and Plato, men who drove so far into vain-mindedness that they even bowed down in worship before motionless and lifeless idols?

Πῶς οὐκ ἐγκαλύπτῃ, ἐγκρατεῖς καὶ σοφοὺς ὀνο- μάζων τοὺς περὶ Διογένην, καὶ Πυθαγόραν, καὶ Πλάτωνα, οἵτινες ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἥλασαν τῆς ματαιο- φροσύνης, ὥστε καὶ τοῖς ἀκινήτοις καὶ ἀψύχοις εἰ- δώλοις προσκυνῆσαι;