Basil the Great Quotes
Basil of Caesarea, called the Great, was a fourth-century Cappadocian theologian, bishop, and the chief organizer of Eastern Christian monasticism. The elder brother of Gregory of Nyssa and friend of Gregory of Nazianzus, he played a leading role in shaping orthodox Trinitarian theology in the decades after Nicaea. The quotes below are attributed to Basil the Great, organized by topic.
Basil the Great on Justice
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Attributed to Basil the Great:
“The bread you keep belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging in your closet, to the naked.”
Basil the Great on Life
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Attributed to Basil the Great:
“Wherever there are children, there is hope.”
Basil the Great on Love
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Attributed to Basil the Great:
“He who has loved much will be forgiven much.”
Basil the Great on Time
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Attributed to Basil the Great:
“Time is fluid in nature; it can never be recovered.”
Basil the Great on Virtue
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Attributed to Basil the Great:
“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.”