How One Who Has Rightly Come to Rule Should Conduct Himself

The conduct of a prelate ought to rise above the conduct of the people as far as the life of a shepherd usually sets him above the flock. For one who is so regarded that the people are called his flock is bound to consider anxiously how great a necessity is laid on him to keep to what is right. It is necessary, then, that he be pure in thought and foremost in action; discerning in keeping silence and useful in speech; a near neighbor to everyone in sympathy and raised above all in contemplation; through humility a close friend to those who live good lives, and through zeal for righteousness unbending against the vices of evildoers. He must not slacken his care for the inner life because he is busy with outward things, nor neglect to provide for outward things in his concern for the inner life. But the things we have touched on so briefly here, let us now unfold and discuss at greater length. [a]