Study And Deeds

Φρυάττῃ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀναγνώσει τῶν Γραφῶν, καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖς φυσώμενος ἐπὶ ταῖς θεωρίαις, ἀντὶ καρπῶν ψιλὰ τὰ φύλλα κατέχειν τερπόμενος, καὶ μυκτηρίζεις τοὺς γνῶσιν μὴ ἔχοντας. Τοῦτο δ' ἂν καὶ σκηνικοὶ πολλάκις ποιῆσαι δυνήσονται. Ἀλλ' ἔργοις μᾶλλον εὐαρέστοις τῷ Θεῷ τὴν σαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ὡραϊσαι καὶ κοσμῆσαι θέλησον· Οὐαὶ γὰρ, φησὶ, γραμματεῦσι καὶ θαρισαίοις ὑποκρινομένοις τὴν μάθησιν τῶν μακαρίων λόγων, ὅτι λέγουσι τὰ χρηστὰ, καὶ οὐ ποιοῦσιν αὐτά. Πρότερον τοίνυν πρᾶξον, καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο δίδασκε. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΠΓ' Εὐγενιῳ Διακονῳ Source: Migne PG 79.120b

You vaunt on account of your study of Scripture, and exult because of your insights, delighting therefore to have the bare leaves rather than the fruit, and you sneer at those who lack such knowledge. But even actors can often do this. You should wish to bedeck and adorn your soul with deeds pleasing to God. 'Alas to you,' He says, 'Scribes and Pharisees, who make a lie of the words of the Divine teaching; for they speak of good things and do not do them.' 1 First do, and then teach. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 83, To Eugenius the Deacon 1 Mt 23.3