Evagrius Ponticus

In his own words on Sirach

• Sirach 42:24

  Given that "all things are in pairs, the one opposite the other," as Jesus the wise man says, receive what I send you according to the letter and according to the spirit, and consider that in every case the letter presupposes the intellect: without this, not even the letter would exist. Thus prayer also involves two ways, active and contemplative. And the same for numbers, which in an immediate way express quantity and in their deeper meaning quality.

  CHAPTERS ON PRAYER, PROLOGUE