Letter 683

To Colorbasius. The man who neglects the practice of noble deeds done in accordance with Christ, but instead lays claim to elegance of speech, is like a man who prizes a loaf of bread made of stone, from which he will not be nourished, but rather will shatter his own teeth.

Ὁ ἀμελῶν τῆς ἐργασίας τῶν κατὰ Χριστὸν ἀριστευμάτων, τῆς δὲ καλλιλεξίας ἀντιποιούμενος, ὁμοιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ λίθινον φιλοκαλοῦντι ἄρτον, ἐξ οὗ μὴ τραφήσεται, μᾶλλον δὲ τοὺς ἰδίους συγκλάσει ὀδόντας.