The Enchiridion 1
1 The Author Desires the Gift of True Wisdom for Laurentius PL 40, 230
I Cannot express, my beloved son Laurentius, the delight with which I witness your progress in knowledge, and the earnest desire I have that you should be a wise man: not one of those of whom it is said, “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” but one of those of whom it is said, “The multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world,” and such as the apostles wishes those to become, whom he tells,” I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” Now, just as no one can exist of himself, so no one can be wise of himself, but only by the enlightening influence of Him of whom it is written,” All wisdom cometh from the Lord.”
Sapientiae verae donum exoptat Laurentio. Dici non potest, dilectissime fili Laurenti, quantum tua eruditione delecter, quamque te cupiam esse sapientem: non ex eorum numero de quibus dicitur, Ubi sapiens? ubi scriba? ubi conquisitor hujus saeculi? Nonne stultam fecit Deus sapientiam hujus mundi ! sed ex eorum de quibus scriptum est, Multitudo sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum ; et quales vult Apostolus fieri, quibus dicit, Volo autem vos sapientes quidem esse in bono, simplices autem in malo . [Sicut autem nemo a se ipso esse potest; ita etiam nemo a se ipso sapiens esse potest, sed ab illo illustrante, de quo scriptum est, Omnis sapientia a Deo est .]