Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume VII/Letters of Gregory Nazianzen/Correspondence with Saint Basil/Letter 49

Ep. XLIX.&#160; To Basil.&#160; (The Praises of Quiet.)

You accuse me of laziness and idleness, because I did not accept your Sasima, and because I have not bestirred myself like a Bishop, and do not arm you against each other like a bone thrown into the midst of dogs.&#160; My greatest business always is to keep free from business.&#160; And to give you an idea of one of my good points, so much do I value freedom from business, that I think I might even be a standard to all men of this kind of magnanimity, and if only all men would imitate me the Churches would have no troubles; nor would the faith, which every one uses as a weapon in his private quarrels, be pulled in pieces.