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Pulcheria. This woman, having been asked by someone in an assembly of many women, why she alone of all women wears no adornment, said: The virtue of her husband is sufficient adornment for a woman.

Pythagor[as]. To fall into fire and into a woman is the same thing.

Secundus. Secundus the wise, having been asked, What is a woman? said: Man's shipwreck, household's tempest, impediment to peace of mind, life's capture, daily loss, a self-chosen battle, an expensive war, a beast that eats with you, a care that sits with you, an embracing lioness, an adorned Scylla, a wicked animal, a necessary evil.

The same said, I have been subject to three evils: grammar, poverty, and a destructive woman I was not strong enough to escape.

Philoxenus. Philoxenus the poet, (913) when someone said, Why does Sophocles introduce good women, but you worthless ones, said, Because Sophocles says what women ought to be; but I, what they are.

DISCOURSE 40.

Concerning contradiction and audacity and strife. Matthew 5. You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

But I say to you: Do not resist the evil one; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Romans 9. O man, who are you to answer back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, Why have you made me like this? Or does the potter not have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

Proverbs 27. Iron sharpens iron;

Proverbs 25. The north wind stirs up clouds; but a shameless face provokes the tongue.

Sirach 4. Do not be bold in your tongue, and sluggish and slack in your deeds.

Sirach 22. Before a fire, the vapor of a furnace and smoke; so before bloodshed, revilings.

A man accustomed to words of reproach, will not be disciplined in all his days.

Strife hastily pursued kindles a fire; and a hasty fight sheds blood.

Basil. Contradiction shows an autocratic and insubordinate spirit, even if it is done in the guise of humility.

The Theologian. For noble spirits are wont to be defiant against one who rules by force, and like a flame fanned by the wind, it is kindled all the more, the more violently it is blown upon.

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Πουλχερία. Αὕτη ἐρωτηθεῖσα ὑπό τινος ἐν συνόδῳ πλειόνων γυναικῶν, διατί μόνη τῶν ἄλλων γυναικῶν οὐ φορεῖ κόσμον, ἔφη· Αὐτάρκης κόσμος ἐστί γυναικί, ἡ τοῦ ἀνδρός ἀρετή.

Πυθαγόρ. Τό εἰς πῦρ καί γυναῖκα ἐμπεσειν, ἴσον ὑπάρχει.

Σεκοῦνδος. Σεκοῦνδος ὁ σοφός ἐρωτηθείς, Τί ἐστι γυνή; εἶπεν· Ἀνδρός ναυάγιον, οἴκου ζάλη, ἀμεριμνίας ἐμπόδιον, βίου ἅλωσις, καθημερινή ζημία, αὐθαίρετος μάχη, πολυτελής πόλεμος, συνεσθιόμενον θηρίον, συγκαθημένη μέριμνα, συμπλεκομένη λέαινα, κεκοσμημένη σκύλλα, ζῶον πονηρόν, ἀναγκαῖον κακόν.

Ὁ αὐτός ἔφη, Τριῶν κακῶν τέτευγμαι· γραμματικῆς, πενίης, καί οὐλομένης γυναικός ἐκφυγεῖν οὐκ ἴσχυσα.

Φιλόξενος. Φιλόξενος ὁ ποιητής, (913) εἰπόντος τινος, ∆ιατί Σοφοκλῆς χρηστάς παρεισάγει τάς γυναῖκας , αὐτός δέ φαύλας, εἶπεν, Ὅτι Σοφοκλῆς μέν, οἷας δεῖ εἶναι τάς γυναῖκας λέγει· ἐγώ δέ, οἷαί εἰσιν.

ΛΟΓΟΣ Μ´.

Περί ἀντιλογίας καί θρασύτητος καί ἔριδος. Ματθ. ε´. Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐῤῥέθη, ὀφθαλμόν ἀντί ὀφθαλμοῦ, καί ὀδόντα ἀντί ὀδόντος;

Ἐγώ δέ λέγω ὑμῖν· Μή ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ· ἀλλ᾿ ὅστις σε ῥαπίσει εἰς τήν δεξιάν σιαγόνα, στρέψον αὐτῷ καί τήν ἄλλην.

Ῥωμ. θ´. Ὦ ἄνθρωπε, μενοῦν γε, σύ τίς εἶ ὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενος τῷ Θεῷ; Μή ἐρεῖ τό πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι, Τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως; ἤ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεύς τοῦ πηλοῦ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι, ὅ μέν εἰς τιμήν σκεῦος, ὅ δέ εἰς ἀτιμίαν;

Παροιμ. κζ΄ . Σίδηρος σίδηρον ὀξύνει·

Παροιμ. κε´. Ἄνεμος Βοῤῥᾶς ἐξεγείρει νέφη· πρόσωπον δέ ἀναιδές, γλῶσσαν ἐρεθίζει.

Σιράχ δ´. Μή γίνου θρασύς ἐν τῇ γλώσσῃ σου, καί νωθρός καί παρειμένος ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου.

Σιράχ κβ΄ . Πρό πυρός, ἀτμίς καμίνου καί καπνός·οὕτω πρό αἱμάτων, λοιδορίαι.

Ἄνθρωπος συνεθιζόμενος λόγοις ὀνειδισμοῦ, ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ μή παιδευθῇ.

Ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ· καί μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.

Βασιλ. Ἡ ἀντιλογία τό αὐτοκρατορικόν καί ἀνυπότακτον δείκνυσι, κἄν ἐν σχήματι ταπεινώσεως γίνηται.

Θεολόγου. Φιλεῖ γάρ τά γενναῖα φρονήματα πρό τό βίᾳ κρατοῦ αὐθαδίζεσθαι, καί καθάπερ φλόξ ὑπ᾿ ἀνέμου ῥιπιζομένη, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ἀνάπτεσθαι, ὅσῳπερ ἄν σφοδρότερον καταπνέηται.