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Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume 8 - Basil: Letters and Select Works QUOTES

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume 8 - Basil: Letters and Select Works QUOTES

1 " Some plant wild fig trees near cultivated fig trees, and there are others who, to remedy the weakness of the productive fig tree of our gardens, attach to the branches unripe figs and so retain the fruit which had already begun to drop and to be lost.  What lesson does nature here give us?  That we must often borrow, even from those who are strangers to the faith, a certain vigour to show forth good works.  If you see outside the Church, in pagan life, or in the midst of a pernicious heresy, the example of virtue and fidelity to moral laws, redouble your efforts to resemble the productive fig tree, who by the side of the wild fig tree, gains strength, prevents the fruit from being shed, and nourishes it with more care. "

― Basil the Great , Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume 8 - Basil: Letters and Select Works

2 " Even a fool,” it is said, “when he asks questions,” is counted wise.2613  But when a wise man asks questions, he makes even a fool wise.  And this, thank God, is my case, as often as I receive a letter from your industrious self.  For we become more learned and wiser than we were before, merely by asking questions, because we are taught many things which we did not know; and our anxiety to answer them acts as a teacher to us.  Assuredly at the present time, though I have never before paid attention to the points you raise, I have been forced to make accurate enquiry, and to turn over in my mind both whatever I have heard from the elders, and all that I have been taught in conformity with their lessons. "

― Basil the Great , Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume 8 - Basil: Letters and Select Works