Letter 116: Anatolius's piety, the young man's father, and professional duty all commend the youth.

Many splendid things commend the young man to me. First and greatest are the letters of Your Godliness. Then there is his good father, who from first experience draws one toward goodwill. In addition, there is the rule of the profession, threatening exact accountability if I overlook any of the proper duties. Perhaps the young man's own zeal will also contribute no small share. What remains is for me to ask the support that comes from God. With that support alone, even by itself, intention can reach its goal.

Ἀνατολίωι Πολλά μοι καὶ λαμπρὰ τὰ συνιστῶντα τὸν νέον. πρῶτον καὶ μέγιστον τῆς ὑμετέρας θεοσεβείας τὰ γράμματα, εἶτα πατὴρ ἀγαθός, ἐκ πρώτης πείρας πρὸς εὔνοιαν ἐφελκόμενος. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τῆς τέχνης ὁ νόμος, εὐθύνας ἀπειλῶν ἀκριβεῖς εἴ τι τῶν προσηκόντων παρίδοιμι· τάχα δὲ καὶ ἡ τοῦ νέου σπουδὴ μοῖράν μοι οὐκ ἐλαχίστην παρέξεται. λοιπὸν ἡμῖν αἰτεῖσθαι τὴν ἐκ τοῦ θείου ῥοπήν, μεθ' ἧς καὶ μόνης ἔστι πρὸς πέρας ἐλθεῖν τὴν προαίρεσιν.