The Theme of the Book ascribed to Antonius the Ascetic

7 – Abu Bakr ibn Abi al-Dunya said: “We came across, among the writings of the early sages and the parables they coined, a book replete with maxims and parables. It drives the intelligent person to spurn the transient world and urges him to take a firm grip on righteous deeds for the Hereafter. This is the work attributed to Antonius the Ascetic, and it is reported that he said therein:”}