(Gregory had to carry out his threat. He resigned his responsibility for Nazianzus, and nothing could persuade him to take back his resignation. Bosporius wrote him an urgent letter trying to change his mind, but Gregory replied as follows:)
(S. Gregory had to carry out his threat. He resigned the care of Nazianzus, and nothing would induce him to withdraw his resignation. Bosporius wrote him an urgent letter with this object, but he replied as follows:)
Twice you have tripped me up and deceived me (you know what I mean), and if it was done justly, may the Lord accept from you an odor of sweet savor; if unjustly, may the Lord pardon it. For it is right for me to speak this way about you, since we are commanded to be patient when we are injured. But just as you are in control of your own opinions, so I am in control of mine. That troublesome Gregory will no longer trouble you. I will withdraw to God, who alone is pure and without deceit. I will retreat into myself. This is what I have decided, for stumbling twice over the same stone is something the proverb attributes only to fools.
Twice I have been tripped up by you, and have been deceived (you know what I mean), and, if it was justly, may the Lord smell from you an odour of sweet savour; Genesis 8:21 if unjustly, may the Lord pardon it. For so it is reasonable for me to speak of you, seeing we are commanded to be patient when injuries are inflicted on us. But as you are master of your own opinions, so am I of mine. That troublesome Gregory will no longer be troublesome to you. I will withdraw myself to God, Who alone is pure and guileless. I will retire into myself. This I have determined; for to stumble twice on the same stone is attributed by the proverb to fools alone.