Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/basil-education.asp?pg=2

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Three Millennia of Greek Literature

 

St. Basil the Great - Bilingual Anthology

EDUCATION IS NECESSARY

from the Address To Young Men On The Right Use Of Greek Literature
§§ 2 and 3, here translated by Elpenor  * Greek Fonts ||| St Basil Home Page


ELPENOR EDITIONS IN PRINT

The Original Greek New Testament
Page 2

If there is some closeness between the teachings of our own and of the outside education, knowing this would help us. If there is not, it is certain that to compare and understand the difference, would help us discern the highest. ... Just like a plant's proper virtue is to generate beautiful fruit, but it also bears some decoration and leaves that move along with branches, the same happens with the soul, whose primary fruit is truth, but there isn't any less grace to have weared the outside wisdom, like some leaves that provide shelter and a very beautiful look to the fruit. Εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔστι τις οἰκειότης πρὸς ἀλλήλους τοῖς λόγοις͵ προὔργου ἂν ἡμῖν αὐτῶν ἡ γνῶσις γένοιτο· εἰ δὲ μή͵ ἀλλὰ τό γε παράλληλα θέντας καταμαθεῖν τὸ διάφορον οὐ μικρὸν εἰς βεβαίωσιν τοῦ βελτίονος. Τίνι μέντοι καὶ παρεικάσας τῶν παιδεύσεων ἑκατέραν͵ τῆς εἰκόνος ἂν τύχοις; ῏Ηπου καθάπερ φυτοῦ οἰκεία μὲν ἀρετὴ τῷ καρπῷ βρύειν ὡραίῳ͵ φέρει δέ τινα κόσμον καὶ φύλλα τοῖς κλάδοις περισειόμενα· οὕτω δὴ καὶ ψυχῇ προηγουμένως μὲν καρπὸς ἡ ἀλήθεια͵ οὐκ ἄχαρί γε μὴν οὐδὲ τὴν θύραθεν σοφίαν περιβεβλῆσθαι͵ οἷόν τινα φύλλα σκέπην τε τῷ καρπῷ καὶ ὄψιν οὐκ ἄωρον παρεχόμενα.
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Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/basil-education.asp?pg=2