Ambrose of Milan : Let us ponder the nature of life and of death. Life is the enjoyment of the gift of breath, death the deprivation of it. Further, this gift of breath is considered by most people as a good. And so life is this, the enjoyment of goods, but death is the divestiture of them. And Scripture says, "Behold, I have set before your face life and death, good and evil," for it calls life good and death evil and attributes to each its proper deserts. — DEATH AS A GOOD 1.2 Basil of Caesarea : There is a certain balance constructed in the interior of each of us by our Creator, on which it is possible to judge the nature of things. "I have set before you life and death, good and evil," two natures contrary to each other. Balance them against each other in your own tribunal. — HOMILY ON Psalms 61:4 Origen of Alexandria : Therefore, let us acquire eternal life. Let us acquire what is available to us. God does not give it to us; He offers it to us: "Behold, I have offered you life." It is available to us to stretch out our hands to good deeds, to take possession of life and to keep it in our soul. — DIALOGUE WITH HERACLIDES