A Plea For Endurance

Εἰ Σωκράτης ὁ τῶν Ἀττικῶν δογμάτων νομοθέτης, καὶ τυπτηθεὶς οὐκ ἠμύνατο, αὐτὸς τί ἀλύεις μόνον ὑβρισθεὶς, ὡς γέγραφας; Εἰ γὰρ φιλοσοφήσειας, αὐτὸς τὴν Σωκράτους δόξαν ἀποίσῃ, εἰ καὶ ἧττον Σωκράτους πεπαρῴνησαι· ὁ δὲ ἐξ ἑναντίας ὡς βέλει τῇ μεγαλοψυχίᾳ τρωθήσεται, ἤ καὶ ἔσθ' ὅτε τῆς φιλαμαρτήμονος μεταβληθήσεται καὶ γνώνης καὶ γλώσσης, καὶ χάριν σοι εἴσεται ὡς αἰτίῳ τῆς ἀλλοιώσεως. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΙΑ´ Ὠφελιῳ Γραμμτικῳ Source: Migne PG 78.185d-188a

If Socrates, that law giver of Attic dogmas, did not defend himself when attacked, why are you distraught by mere insolence, as you write? If you would be philosophical, look to the glory of Socrates, even if you are pierced by something less than him. Against that which wounds your soul like a weighty spear, if you shall transform mind and tongue to love of enduring, you shall have good repute, just as in the case of another. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 11, To Ophelius the Scholar