Philosophy And Virtue

Hanc se sectari philosophi quoque profitentur, sed tam illic patientia falsa est quam et falsa sapientia est. Unde enim vel sapiens esse uel patiens possit qui nec sapientiam nec patientiam Dei novit? Quando ipse de his qui sibi sapere in mundo videntur moneat et dicat: perdam sapientiam sapientium et prudentiam prudentium reprobabo. Item beatus apostolus Paulus plenus Spiritu sancto et vocandis formandisque gentibus missus contestetur et instruat dicens: Videte ne qui vos depraedetur per philosophiam et inanem fallaciam secundum traditionem hominum, secundum elementa mundi et non secundum Christum, quia in ipso habitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis. Et alio loco, Nemo se, inquit, decipiat. si qui putat sapientem se esse in vobis, mundo huic stultus fiat ut fiat sapiens. sapientia enim huius mundi stultitia est aput Deum. scriptum est enim: reprehendens sapientes in astutia ipsorum. et iterum: cognovit Deus cogitationes sapientium quia sunt stultae. Quare si sapientia illic vera non est, esse non potest et vera patientia. Nam si patiens ille est qui est humilis et mitis, philosophos autem nec humiles videmus esse nec mites sed sibi multum placentes et hoc ipso quod sibi placeant Deo displicentes, apparet illic non esse patientiam, ubi sit insolens adfectatae libertatis audacia et exerti ac seminudi pectoris inverecunda. Nos autem, fratres dilectissimi, qui philosophi non verbis sed factis sumus, nec vestitu sapientiam sed veritate praeferimus, qui virtutum conscientiam magis quam iactantiam nouimus, qui non loquimur magna sed vivimus, quasi servi et cultores Dei patientiam quam magisteriis caelestibus discimus obsequiis spiritalibus praebeamus. Est enim nobis cum Deo virtus ista communis. Inde patientia incipit, inde claritas eius et dignitas caput sumit. Origo et magnitudo patientiae Deo auctore procedit. Diligenda res homini quae Deo cara est: bonum quod amat maiestas divina commendat. Sanctus Cyprianus, De Bono Patientiae Source: Migne PL 4.623a-624a

Philosophers also profess that they pursue this virtue of endurance, but their patience is as false as their wisdom. For how can he be either wise or patient, who has not known the wisdom nor the patience of God, when He Himself says in admonishment of those who seem to themselves to be wise in the world, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will rebuke the understanding of the prudent.' 1 Likewise the blessed Apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sent for the calling and forming of the Gentiles, gives witness and instruction, saying, 'See that no man rob you with philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, and according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ, because in Him dwells all the fullness of Divinity.' 2 And in another place he says, 'Let no man deceive himself, if any man among you thinks himself wise, let him become a fool to this world so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. It is written, 'I will rebuke the wise in their cleverness.' And again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are foolish.' 3 So if their wisdom is not true, nor is their patience. For if he who is enduring is humble and meek, and we do not see philosophers are either humble or meek, but they are greatly pleased with themselves, and because they please themselves, they displease God, it is apparent that there is no patience where there is the insolent audacity of an affected liberty, and the immodest boastfulness of an exposed and half-naked chest. But we, most beloved brethren, are philosophers in deeds and not in words, and we do not display our wisdom in our garments, but in truth; we are more acquainted with the consciousness of the virtues than with the boast of them, not speaking great things, but living them, showing ourselves as servants and worshippers of God in our spiritual obedience, which patience we learn from the heavenly teachings. And we have this virtue in common with God. From Him patience begins, from Him its glory and its dignity arise. The origin and greatness of patience proceed from God as its author. Man should love what is dear to God. The good which the Divine Majesty loves, it commends. Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise On The Good of Patience. 1 Isaiah 29.14 2 Colos 2.8 3 1 Cor 3.18-20