(During his journey, having become acquainted with this virtuous warrior, he asks him to succeed in the love of God. (Written in 372)

During my journey I have been vouchsafed much by the Lord, for which I must thank Him, but I consider it my greatest blessing to be the acquaintance with your piety, granted to me by the good Lord. For I recognized in you a man who proves by himself that even in military life it is possible to preserve the perfection of love for God, and that a Christian should be distinguished not by the cut of his dress, but by his spiritual disposition. Wherefore even then I willingly spent time with thee, and now, as soon as I think of thee, I enjoy the greatest gladness. Therefore, be of good courage and be strong, strive unceasingly to nourish and increase in yourselves the love of God, so that the abundance of the blessings given to you from Him may also increase. As for what thou rememberest of me, I have no need of any other proof, seeing the testimony of the works themselves.

111 (115). To Simplicia, the Heretic

(He admonishes this angry woman that generosity in violation of justice is of no avail; he advises her not to teach the bishop, but to remember the Judgment of God, at which the witnesses will not be slaves and eunuchs. (Written about 372 A.D.))

People unwisely hate the good and love the bad. Therefore, I myself restrain my tongue, suppressing resentment by silence about the insults inflicted on me. But I await the Heavenly Judge, Who knows how to avenge all wickedness in the end. Let some people pour money more generously than sand, but by trampling on justice, he harms the soul, because God, as I think, always demands sacrifice, not as having need of it, but accepting pious and righteous disposition for a sacrifice of great value. But when someone tramples on himself with negligence, then the Lord changes his prayers into unclean ones. Therefore, bring to mind the last day, and do not teach me, if you please. I know more than you do, and I am not choked by so many inner thorns, I do not mix ten times as many vices with a small number of good qualities. Thou hast stirred up lizards and toads against me, animals of spring, of course, but nevertheless unclean. But a bird will come from on high to devour it. I will give an answer, not as you think, but as God Himself judges. And if there is a need of witnesses, it will not be slaves, nor dishonorable and miserable eunuchs, but a race of neither husbands nor wives, men who are misogynistic, envious, servant for a vile price, irritable, pampered, enslaved to the belly, gold-loving, cruel, ready to weep for a tidbit, fickle, miserly, all-taking, insatiable, frenzied, and jealous, and what more can I say? People who have been condemned to distortion since birth. Therefore, how can those who have crooked legs be right? They are chaste, but without reward for this, because iron has made them chaste; they give themselves up to frenzy, but in vain, because of their own vileness. They will not be witnesses at the Judgment, but the eyes of the righteous and the eyes of perfect men will testify, who will then see also that which they now look at with one understanding.

112 (116). To Firmin

(Having learned that Firmin, leaving the ascetic life, entered military service, in imitation of his grandfather, he deflected him from this intention. (Written about 372 A.D.))

And your letters are rare and brief, because either you are too lazy to write, or you have in mind to avoid the satiety that is the result of multitude, or you even accustom yourself to brevity in words. And for me your letters are not enough; Even though they were much more abundant, they would not satisfy the desire, because I would like to know everything about you in detail: what is your bodily condition? How do you manage in asceticism? Do you stick to what you decided at first, or have you thought of something else, considering your disposition with the circumstances you have encountered? Therefore, if you remain the same, I do not require extensive letters; I've had enough if you write: "So-and-so to so-and-so. Know that I am healthy, and be healthy yourself." But since I hear something of which I am ashamed to speak, namely, that you, having left the rank of blessed ancestors, have gone over to the side of your father's grandfather, and from Firmin are trying to become Vrettanius, it is desirable to hear about this and to know the reasons why you are forced to enter this path of life. But since you yourself have kept silent, ashamed of your enterprise, I ask you not to undertake anything.

And so, if you did not have this thought at first, or if it was, but was thrown by you again, then inform me immediately. And if, whatever I would like, the same intention remains in you, then this misfortune will give me news of itself, and I will have no need of your letters.

145 (150). To Amphilochius, on behalf of Heraclides

(Heraclides justifies himself before Amphilochius for not withdrawing with him into the wilderness, although he promised to work together for God; he recounts his conversation with St. Basil in the almshouse near Caesarea about non-acquisitiveness; he concludes with the desire that Amphilochius himself should come to St. Basil, because it is better to listen to him than to wander in the wilderness. (Written in 373))