Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Archbishop of Constantinople · A Selection from the Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Sometime Archbishop of Constantinople
Ep. LIII
Page 160 of 175
(Gregory put a collection of Basil's letters with his own, and gave them the first place. Nicobulus seems to have been surprised at this, and asked the reason. Gregory explains as follows.)
I have always preferred the Great Basil to myself, though he was of the contrary opinion; and so I do now, not less for truth's sake than for friendship's. This is the reason why I have given his letters the first place and my own the second. For I hope we two will always be coupled together; and also I would supply others with an example of modesty and submission.
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Volume 7, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (1890–1900). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.