HOW TO ADMONISH THE WISE AND THE DULL

The wise must be shown that they are not truly wise; the dull must be admonished to learn what they do not know.  

The wise must be made to abandon their foolish worldly wisdom and  make them learn the wise foolishness of God.  The dull who feel foolish must be encouraged to advance more closely to true wisdom.  

To the wise, Scriptures says:  "If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise."  To the dull, Scriptures has it:  "God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise."  

The wise are converted by arguments from reason; the dull are better converted by examples.  Let the wise fall by their own allegations; the dull easily learn by the praise-worthy deeds of others.  
Victorious reasoning should subdue the wise; but the gentle force of example should influence the dull to rise to the heights of God.  

St. Gregory the Great: Pastoral Care, Chapter 7, Part II

(05-18-05)

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                                                                                        - Teresa of Avila

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