Maximus the Confessor on Vice and Virtue

Περί βίου ἀρετῆς καί κακίας.

Concerning a life of virtue and Vice

Σολομῶντος-- Ἀρετῆς μέν σημεῖον οὐδέν ἔχομεν δεῖξαι· ἐν δέ τῇ κακίᾳ ἡμῶν κατεδαπανήθημεν.

By Solomon, “ we possess nothing to proffer a proof of virtue, but in our vice we are consumed.”

Τοῦ αὐτοῦ.- Μή σε πλανήσωσιν ἄνδρες ἀσεβεῖς, μηδέ πορευθῇς ἐν ὁδῷ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν· ἔκκλινον δέ τόν πόδα σου ἀπό τῶν τρίβων αὐτῶν· οἱ γάρ πόδες αὐτῶν εἰς κακίαν τρέχουσιν.

From the same “Do not let irreverent men deceive you, neither go in the way with them. Turn your feet from their paths, for their feet run to vice (mischief)”

Τοῦ αὐτοῦ- Ὅς καταφρονεῖ πράγματος, καταφρονηθήσεται ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

From the same (Prov.13:13),”He that despises the word shall be despised”

Τοῦ αὐτοῦ.-- Ὥσπερ ὄμφαξ ὁδοῦσι βλαβερόν καί καπνός ὄμμασιν, οὕτω παρανομία τοῖς χρωμένοις αὐτῇ. 

From the same (Prov.10:26),”As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.”

Σιράχ. -- Ὁ ποιῶν πανηρά, εἰς αὐτόν κυλισθήσεται, καί οὐ μή ἐπιγνῷ πόθεν ἤκει αὐτῷ.

Sirach (27:30),” A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author, and he shall not know from whence it comes to him.”

Βασιλείου.- Μόνη κτημάτων ἡ ἀρετή ἀναφαίρετον.

Ἀρετῆς ἄσκησις, τίμιον μέν κτῆμα τῷ ἔχοντι· ἤδιστον δέ θέαμα τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν.

Ὥσπερ γάρ τῷ πυρί αὐτομάτως ἕπεται τό φωτίζειν, καί τῷ μύρῳ τό εὐωδεῖν·  οὕτω καί ταῖς ἀγαθαῖς πράξεσιν ἀναγκαίως ἀκολουθεῖ τό ὠφέλιμον.

Basil the Great, “Virtue is the only inalienable possession. The labor of virtue, indeed for one not having precious possessions, is a pleasant sight for those who happen to see it.

For just like fire automatically follows starting a light, and the smell from  perfuming,  even so of necessity profit  follows good works.”

Ἀρχή πρός τήν ἀνάληψιν τῶν καλῶν ἡ ἀναχώρησις τῶν κακῶν. Ἔκκλινον γάρ, φησίν, ἀπό κακοῦ, καί ποίησον ἀγαθόν.

“withdrawing from vices  is the beginning toward the ascent toward the good. For incline, they  say, from  evil and do good.”

Θεολόγου. -- Φύσει πρόχειρον ἡ κακία, καί πολύς ἐπί τό χεῖρον ὁ δρόμος, ἤ ῥοῦς κατά πρανοῦς ῥέων, ἤ καλάμη (≡15Ε_014≡> τις πρός σπινθῆρα καί ἄνεμον ῥαδίως ἐξαπτομένη καί γινομένη φλόξ, καί συνδαπανωμένη τῷ οἰκείῳ γεννήματι. Οὐ πάνυ τι ῥάδιόν ἐστι τῶν ἀρετῶν τήν νικῶσαν εὑρεῖν, καί ταύτῃ δοῦναι τά πρεσβεῖα καί τά νικητήρια·  ὥσπερ οὐδέν ἐν λειμῶνι πολυανθεῖ καί εὐώδει τῶν ἀνθέων τό κάλλιστον καί εὐωδέστατον, ἄλλοτε ἄλλου τήν ὄσφρησιν καί τήν ὄψιν πρός ἑαυτό μεθέλκοντος, καί πρῶτον δρέπεσθαι πείθοντος.

 Gregory the Theologian,” Vice is naturally easy, and the road very easily trod, running against the flow it runs, or as a reed with a spark and wind easily ignited  becomes a flame, and are consumed together in the common nature.” 

For it is not something very easy, to have found victory  in the virtues, and so also to give the honor and victory trophies.  It is just like not one of the most beautiful and aromatic flowers in a well flowered and pleasantly smelling meadow at anytime, except at this time, draws us to itself to it’s pleasant smell and appearance, except it first is plucked up.”

Χρυσοστ.-- Σπάνιον ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ κτῆσις καί πρόσαντες, κἄν εἰ πολύ τό μεθέλκον εἴη καί προκαλούμενον. 

Chrysostom, “The acquisition of the good is rare even for those who  progress although  it may be very enticing and provocative.”