And on other accounts also it may be called safe to let alone the Divine essence, as unspeakable, and beyond the scope of human reasoning. For the desire of investigating what is obscure and tracing out hidden things by the operation of human reasoning gives an entrance to false no less than to true notions, inasmuch as he who aspires to know the unknown will not always arrive at truth, but may also conceive of falsehood itself as truth. But the disciple of the Gospels and of Prophecy believes that He Who is, is; both from what he has learnt from the sacred writers, and from the harmony of things which do appear, and from the works of Providence. But what He is and how—leaving this as a useless and unprofitable speculation, such a disciple will open no door to falsehood against truth. For in speculative enquiry fallacies readily find place. But where speculation is entirely at rest, the necessity of error is precluded. And that this is a true account of the case, may be seen if we consider how it is that heresies in the churches have wandered off into many and various opinions in regard to God, men deceiving themselves as they are swayed by one mental impulse or another; and how these very men with whom our treatise is concerned have slipped into such a pit of profanity. Would it not have been safer for all, following the counsel of wisdom, to abstain from searching into such deep matters, and in peace and quietness to keep inviolate the pure deposit of the faith? But since, in fact, human nothingness has commenced intruding recklessly into matters that are above comprehension, and supporting by dogmatic teaching the figments of their vain imagination, there has sprung up in consequence a whole host of enemies to the truth, and among them these very men who are the subject of this treatise; dogmatizers of deceit who seek to limit the Divine Being, and all but openly idolize their own imagination, in that they deify the idea expressed by this “ungeneracy” of theirs, as not being only in a certain relation discernible in the Divine nature, but as being itself God, or the essence of God. Yet perchance they would have done better to look to the sacred company of the Prophets and Patriarchs, to whom “at sundry times, and in divers manners25    Heb. i. 1.,” the Word of truth spake, and, next in order, those who were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, that they might give honour due to the claims on their belief of the things attested by the Holy Spirit Himself, and abide within the limits of their teaching and knowledge, and not venture on themes which are not comprehended in the canon of the sacred writers. For those writers, by revealing God, so long unknown to human life by reason of the prevalence of idolatry, and making Him known to men, both from the wonders which manifest themselves in His works, and from the names which express the manifold variety of His power, lead men, as by the hand, to the understanding of the Divine nature, making known to them the bare grandeur of the thought of God; while the question of His essence, as one which it is impossible to grasp, and which bears no fruit to the curious enquirer, they dismiss without any attempt at its solution. For whereas they have set forth respecting all other things, that they were created, the heaven, the earth, the sea, times, ages, and the creatures that are therein, but what each is in itself, and how and whence, on these points they are silent; so, too, concerning God Himself, they exhort men to “believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him26    Heb. xi. 6.,” but in regard to His nature, as being above every name, they neither name it nor concern themselves about it. For if we have learned any names expressive of the knowledge of God, all these are related and have analogy to such names as denote human characteristics. For as they who would indicate some person unknown by marks of recognition speak of him as of good parentage and descent, if such happen to be the case, or as distinguished for his riches or his worth, or as in the prime of life, or of such or such stature, and in so speaking they do not set forth the nature of the person indicated, but give certain notes of recognition (for neither advantages of birth, nor of wealth, nor of reputation, nor of age, constitute the man; they are considered, simply as being observable in the man), thus too the expressions of Holy Scripture devised for the glory of God set forth one or another of the things which are declared concerning Him, each inculcating some special teaching. For by these expressions we are taught either His power, or that He admits not of deterioration, or that He is without cause and without limit, or that He is supreme above all things, or, in short, something, be it what it may, respecting Him. But His very essence, as not to be conceived by the human intellect or expressed in words, this it has left untouched as a thing not to be made the subject of curious enquiry, ruling that it be revered in silence, in that it forbids the investigation of things too deep for us, while it enjoins the duty of being slow to utter any word before God. And therefore, whosoever searches the whole of Revelation will find therein no doctrine of the Divine nature, nor indeed of anything else that has a substantial existence, so that we pass our lives in ignorance of much, being ignorant first of all of ourselves, as men, and then of all things besides. For who is there who has arrived at a comprehension of his own soul? Who is acquainted with its very essence, whether it is material or immaterial, whether it is purely incorporeal, or whether it exhibits anything of a corporeal character; how it comes into being, how it is composed, whence it enters into the body, how it departs from it, or what means it possesses to unite it to the nature of the body; how, being intangible and without form, it is kept within its own sphere, what difference exists among its powers, how one and the same soul, in its eager curiosity to know the things which are unseen, soars above the highest heavens, and again, dragged down by the weight of the body, falls back on material passions, anger and fear, pain and pleasure, pity and cruelty, hope and memory, cowardice and audacity, friendship and hatred, and all the contraries that are produced in the faculties of the soul? Observing which things, who has not fancied that he has a sort of populace of souls crowded together in himself, each of the aforesaid passions differing widely from the rest, and, where it prevails, holding lordship over them all, so that even the rational faculty falls under and is subject to the predominating power of such forces, and contributes its own co-operation to such impulses, as to a despotic lord? What word, then, of the inspired Scripture has taught us the manifold and multiform character of what we understand in speaking of the soul? Is it a unity composed of them all, and, if so, what is it that blends and harmonizes things mutually opposed, so that many things become one, while each element, taken by itself, is shut up in the soul as in some ample vessel? And how is it that we have not the perception of them all as being involved in it, being at one and the same time confident and afraid, at once hating and loving and feeling in ourselves the working as well of all other emotions confused and intermingled; but, on the contrary, take knowledge only of their alternate control, when one of them prevails, the rest remaining quiescent? What in short is this composition and arrangement, and this capacious void within us, such that to each is assigned its own post, as though hindered by middle walls of partition from holding intercourse with its neighbour? And then again what account has explained whether passion is the fundamental essence of the soul, or fear, or any of the other elements which I have mentioned; and what emotions are unsubstantial? For if these have an independent subsistence, then, as I have said, there is comprehended in ourselves not one soul, but a collection of souls, each of them occupying its distinct position as a particular and individual soul. But if we must suppose these to be a kind of emotion without subsistence, how can that which has no essential existence exercise lordship over us, having reduced us as it were to slave under whichsoever of these things may have happened to prevail? And if the soul is something that thought only can grasp, how can that which is manifold and composite be contemplated as such, when such an object ought to be contemplated by itself, independently of these bodily qualities? Then, as to the soul’s power of growth, of desire, of nutrition, of change, and the fact that all the bodily powers are nourished, while feeling does not extend through all, but, as in things without life, some of our members are destitute of feeling, the bones for example, the cartilages, the nails, the hair, all of which take nourishment, but do not feel,—tell me who is there that understands this only half-complete operation of the soul as to these? And why do I speak of the soul? Even the inquiry as to that thing in the flesh itself which assumes all the corporeal qualities has not been pursued to any definite result. For if any one has made a mental analysis of that which is seen into its component parts, and, having stripped the object of its qualities, has attempted to consider it by itself, I fail to see what will have been left for investigation. For when you take from a body its colour, its shape, its degree of resistance, its weight, its quantity, its position, its forces active or passive, its relation to other objects, what remains, that can still be called a body, we can neither see of ourselves, nor are we taught it by Scripture. But how can he who is ignorant of himself take knowledge of anything that is above himself? And if a man is familiarized with such ignorance of himself, is he not plainly taught by the very fact not to be astonished at any of the mysteries that are without? Wherefore also, of the elements of the world, we know only so much by our senses as to enable us to receive what they severally supply for our living. But we possess no knowledge of their substance, nor do we count it loss to be ignorant of it. For what does it profit me to inquire curiously into the nature of fire, how it is struck out, how it is kindled, how, when it has caught hold of the fuel supplied to it, it does not let it go till it has devoured and consumed its prey; how the spark is latent in the flint, how steel, cold as it is to the touch, generates fire, how sticks rubbed together kindle flame, how water shining in the sun causes a flash; and then again the cause of its upward tendency, its power of incessant motion?—Putting aside all which curious questions and investigations, we give heed only to the subservience of this fire to life, seeing that he who avails himself of its service fares no worse than he who busies himself with inquiries into its nature.

Καὶ ἄλλως δ' ἄν τις ἀσφαλὲς εἶναι φήσειεν ἀπολυπραγμόνητον ἐᾶν τὴν θείαν οὐσίαν ὡς ἀπόρρητον καὶ ἀνέπαφον λογισμοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις. τὸ μὲν γὰρ τῶν ἀδήλων καταστοχάζεσθαι καί τινα τῶν ἀποκρύφων γνῶσιν ἐξ ἐπινοίας ἀνθρωπίνων λογισμῶν ἐρευνᾶσθαι πάροδον καὶ ἀκολουθίαν καὶ ταῖς διεψευσμέναις τῶν ὑπολήψεων δίδωσιν, διότι τῶν ἀγνοουμένων ὁ στοχασμὸς οὐ μόνον τὸ ἀληθές, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸ πολλάκις τὸ ψεῦδος ὡς ἀληθὲς ὑπολήψεται. ὁ δὲ τῶν εὐαγγελίων καὶ τῆς προφητείας μαθητὴς ὅτι μὲν ἔστιν ὁ ὢν ἐξ ὧν ἀκήκοέ τε τῶν ἁγίων καὶ διὰ τῆς τῶν φαινομένων εὐαρμοστίας καὶ τῶν τῆς προνοίας ἔργων πιστεύει, τί δὲ καὶ ὅπως ἐστὶν ὡς ἀνωφελὲς ἅμα καὶ ἀνήνυτον οὐκ ἐξετάζων οὐδεμίαν δώσει τῷ ψεύδει κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας τὴν εἴσοδον. ἐν μὲν γὰρ τῷ πολυπραγμονεῖν καὶ ὁ παραλογισμὸς χώραν εὑρίσκει, πάσης δὲ πολυπραγμοσύνης ἀργούσης συναποκόπτεται πάντως καὶ ἡ τοῦ διαμαρτάνειν ἀνάγκη. καὶ ὅτι ἀληθὴς ὁ λόγος, πάρεστιν ἐκ τούτου μαθεῖν. πῶς αἱ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν αἱρέσεις εἰς ποικίλας καὶ διαφόρους τὰς περὶ θεοῦ ὑπολήψεις ἀπεπλανήθησαν, ἄλλου κατ' ἄλλην τινὰ τῆς διανοίας κίνησιν ἑαυτὸν ἀπατήσαντος; πῶς αὐτοὶ οὗτοι περὶ ὧν ὁ λόγος ἐστὶ περὶ τὸ βάραθρον τοῦτο τῆς ἀσεβείας κατώλισθον; ἆρ' οὐχὶ πᾶσιν ἀσφαλέστερον ἦν κατὰ τὴν συμβουλὴν τῆς σοφίας μὴ ζητεῖν τὰ βαθύτερα, ἀλλὰ δι' ἡσυχίας τὴν ἁπλῆν τῆς πίστεως παρακαταθήκην ἄσυλον ἑαυτοῖς ἀσφαλίζεσθαι; ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ὅλως ἀρχὴν ἔλαβεν ἡ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐθένεια τοῖς ἀπερινοήτοις ἐμβατεύειν εἰκῇ καὶ δόγμασι κρατύνειν τὰ τῆς ματαίας αὐτῶν οἰήσεως παρευρήματα, ἐντεῦθεν ὁ πολὺς κατάλογος τῶν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ προσπολεμούντων, καὶ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι περὶ ὧν ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν οἱ δογματισταὶ τῆς ἀπάτης ἀναπεφήνασιν οἱ εἰς περιγραφήν τινα τὸ θεῖον ἄγοντες, μονονουχὶ φανερῶς εἰδωλοποιοῦντες ἑαυτῶν τὴν ὑπόνοιαν ἐν τῷ τὴν ἐμφαινομένην τῇ « ἀγεννησίᾳ » διάνοιαν ταύτην θεοποιεῖν, ὡς οὐχὶ κατά τινα λόγον ἐπιθεωρουμένην τῇ θείᾳ φύσει, ἀλλ' αὐτὴν οὖσαν θεὸν ἢ οὐσίαν θεοῦ. καίτοι γε ἴσως ἐχρῆν πρὸς τὸν τῶν ἁγίων χορὸν ἀποβλέποντας, τοὺς προφήτας λέγω καὶ πατριάρχας, οἷς πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως ὁ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐνεφθέγξατο λόγος, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα τοὺς αὐτόπτας τε καὶ ὑπηρέτας γενομένους τοῦ λόγου, δυσωπηθῆναι μὲν τὴν ἀξιοπιστίαν τῶν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ μαρτυρηθέντων τοῦ πνεύματος, ἐμμένειν δὲ τοῖς ὅροις τῆς ἐκείνων διδασκαλίας καὶ γνώσεως καὶ μὴ ἐπιτολμᾶν τούτοις, ὧν ἡ τῶν ἁγίων κατάληψις οὐκ ἐφήψατο. ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ ἀγνοούμενον τέως τὸν θεὸν τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ ζωῇ διὰ τὴν ἐπικρατοῦσαν τότε περὶ τὰ εἴδωλα πλάνην ἐμφανῆ καὶ γνώριμον τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ποιοῦντες ἔκ τε τῶν θαυμάτων, ἃ τοῖς παρ' αὐτοῦ γεγενημένοις ἐμφαίνεται, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ὀνομάτων, δι' ὧν τὸ ποικίλον τῆς θείας δυνάμεως κατανοεῖται, πρὸς τὴν σύνεσιν τῆς θείας φύσεως χειραγωγοῦσι, τὴν μεγαλοπρέπειαν μόνην τῶν περὶ τὸν θεὸν θεωρουμένων τοῖς ἀνθρώποις γνωρίζοντες: τὸν δὲ τῆς οὐσίας λόγον ὡς οὔτε δυνατὸν χωρηθῆναι οὔτε τι φέροντα τοῖς πολυπραγμονοῦσι τὸ κέρδος ἄρρητον ἀφῆκαν καὶ ἀνεξέταστον. καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα ὅτι μὲν γέγονε διηγήσαντο, οὐρανὸν γῆν θάλασσαν χρόνους αἰῶνας καὶ τὴν ἐν τούτοις κτίσιν, ὅ τι δὲ τούτων ἕκαστον καὶ ὅπως καὶ ὅθεν ἀπεσιώπησαν: οὕτω καὶ περὶ τοῦ θεοῦ Ὅτι μὲν ἔστι καὶ τοῖς ἐκζητοῦσιν αὐτὸν μισθαποδότης γίνεται, συμβουλεύουσι πείθεσθαι, τὴν δὲ φύσιν αὐτὴν ὡς ὑπὲρ πᾶν οὖσαν ὄνομα οὔτε ὠνόμασαν οὔτε ἠμέλλησαν. εἰ γάρ τι πρὸς δήλωσιν τῆς θείας κατανοήσεως μεμαθήκαμεν ὄνομα, πάντα ταῦτα κοινωνίαν ἔχει καὶ ἀναλογίαν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα τῶν ὀνομάτων, ἃ τοῦ τινὸς ἀνθρώπου τὴν ἰδιότητα δείκνυσιν. ὡς γὰρ οἱ τὸν ἀγνοούμενον διά τινων γνωρισμάτων δηλοῦντες εὐπατρίδην αὐτόν, ἂν οὕτω τύχῃ, καὶ τῶν εὖ γεγονότων λέγουσιν εἶναι καὶ λαμπρὸν ἐν πλούτῳ καὶ ἐν ἀξίᾳ περίβλεπτον ἀνθοῦντά τε τῇ ὥρᾳ καὶ ἐπὶ τόσον διανεστηκότα τῷ σώματι, καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα λέγοντες οὐ τὴν φύσιν τοῦ δηλουμένου, ἀλλά τινα γνωρίσματα τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν γινωσκομένων ἐδήλωσαν (οὔτε γὰρ τὸ εὐγενὲς οὔτε τὸ πολυχρήματον οὔτε τὸ περιφανὲς τοῦ ἀξιώματος οὔτε τὸ κατὰ τὴν ὥραν περίβλεπτον ἡ ἀνθρωπότης ἐστίν, ἀλλ' ἕκαστον τούτων περὶ τὸν τινὰ θεωρεῖται): οὕτως καὶ πᾶσαι φωναὶ « αἱ » παρὰ τῆς ἁγίας γραφῆς εἰς δοξολογίαν θείαν ἐξευρημέναι τῶν περὶ τὸν θεόν τι δηλουμένων ἀποσημαίνουσιν, ἰδίαν ἔμφασιν ἑκάστη παρεχομένη, δι' ὧν ἢ τὸ δυνατὸν ἢ τὸ τοῦ χείρονος ἀνεπίδεκτον ἢ τὸ μὴ ἐξ αἰτίας εἶναι ἢ τὸ μὴ εἰς περιγραφὴν τέλους ἔρχεσθαι ἢ τὸ κατὰ πάντων ἔχειν τὸ κράτος ἢ ὅλως τι τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν διδασκόμεθα: αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν οὐσίαν ὡς οὔτε διανοίᾳ τινὶ χωρητὴν οὔτε λόγῳ φραστὴν ἀπολυπραγμόνητον εἴασε, σιωπῇ τιμᾶσθαι νομοθετήσασα ἐν τῷ κωλύειν τῶν βαθυτέρων τὴν ζήτησιν καὶ ἐν τῷ λέγειν μὴ δεῖν ἐξενεγκεῖν ῥῆμα πρὸ προσώπου θεοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο πᾶσάν τις θεόπνευστον φωνὴν ἐρευνώμενος οὐκ ἂν εὕροι τῆς θείας φύσεως τὴν διδασκαλίαν οὐδὲ μὴν ἄλλου τινὸς τῶν κατ' οὐσίαν ὑφεστηκότων: ὅθεν ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ πάντων διάγομεν πρῶτον ἑαυτοὺς ἀγνοοῦντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα. τίς γὰρ ἔστιν ὃς τῆς ἰδίας ἑαυτοῦ ψυχῆς ἐν καταλήψει γεγένηται, τίς ὁ ἐπιγνοὺς αὐτῆς τὴν οὐσίαν, ὑλική τίς ἐστιν ἢ ἄϋλος, καθαρῶς ἀσώματος ἤ τι καὶ σωματοειδὲς περὶ αὐτὴν θεωρεῖται, πῶς γίνεται πῶς κίρναται, πόθεν εἰσκρίνεται πῶς ἀφίσταται, τί τὸ συνδεσμοῦν καὶ μεσιτεῦον ἔχει πρὸς τὴν τοῦ σώματος φύσιν, πῶς ἡ ἀναφής τε καὶ ἀσχημάτιστος ἰδίᾳ τινὶ περιγραφῇ περιείληπται, τίς ἡ κατὰ τὰς ἐνεργείας διαφορά, πῶς ἡ αὐτὴ καὶ ὑπὲρ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνατείνεται τῇ πολυπραγμοσύνῃ τῶν ἀοράτων καὶ πρὸς τὰ ὑλικὰ πάθη κατολισθαίνει τῷ βάρει τοῦ σώματος καθελκομένη, θυμόν τε καὶ φόβον, λύπην τε καὶ ἡδονήν, ἔλεον καὶ ἀπήνειαν, ἐλπίδα καὶ μνήμην, δειλίαν καὶ θράσος, φιλίαν καὶ μῖσος καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐναντίον ἐν ταῖς δυνάμεσι τῆς ψυχῆς ἐνεργούμενα; τίς ἄρα κατανοήσας οὐκ ἐλογίσατο, μή τινα δῆμον ψυχῶν ἐν ἑαυτῷ συγκεκροτημένον ἔχοι, πάμπολυ τῶν εἰρημένων ἑκάστου πρὸς τὰ λοιπὰ διαφέροντος καί, καθ' ὃ ἂν ἐπικρατῇ, τὴν κατὰ πάντων ἔχοντος δυναστείαν, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ λογιστικὸν ταῖς ἐπικρατήσεσι τῶν τοιούτων κινημάτων ὑποκύπτειν καὶ ὑποτάσσεσθαι καὶ τὴν παρ' ἑαυτοῦ συνεργίαν πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ὁρμὰς οἷον δεσπότῃ τινὶ τυραννικῶς συνεισφέρειν; τὸ οὖν πολυμερὲς καὶ πολυειδὲς τοῦτο τῶν κατὰ ψυχὴν νοουμένων τίς ὁ διδάξας ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς θεοπνεύστου γραφῆς λόγος, πότερον ἕν τί ἐστιν ἐξ ἁπάντων συγκεκραμένον, καὶ τίς ἡ τῶν ἐναντίων πρὸς ἄλληλα κρᾶσις καὶ σύμπνοια, ὡς ἓν πρᾶγμα τὰ πολλὰ γενέσθαι; ἀλλ' ἕκαστον τούτων κατ' ἰδίαν νοούμενον οἷον ἐν πολυχώρῳ τινὶ ἀγγείῳ τῇ ψυχῇ κατακέκλεισται; καὶ πῶς οὐκ ἀεὶ πάντων ὡς ἐγκειμένων τὴν αἴσθησιν ἔχομεν, θαρροῦντες ἅμα καὶ δειλαινόμενοι μισοῦντές τε κατὰ ταὐτὸν καὶ ἡδόμενοι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πάντων συγκεχυμένην καὶ ἀναμεμιγμένην ἔνδον τὴν κίνησιν ἔχοντες, ἀλλ' ἀνὰ μέρος αὐτῶν τὴν δυναστείαν ἐπιγινώσκομεν, ὅταν ἐπικρατήσῃ τι τούτων ἡσυχαζόντων τῶν ἄλλων; τίς δὲ ὅλως καὶ ἡ σύνθεσις καὶ ἡ διάθεσις αὕτη καὶ ἡ πολύκενος ἐν ἡμῖν εὐρυχωρία, ὥστε ἑκάστῳ τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν ἀποταχθῆναι οἷόν τισι μέσοις διατειχίσμασι κωλυομένῳ πρὸς τὴν ἐπιμιξίαν τοῦ γείτονος; αὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο, εἰ κατ' οὐσίαν ὑφέστηκεν ὁ θυμὸς ἢ ὁ φόβος ἢ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν εἰρημένων ἤ τινες ἀνυπόστατοι κινήσεις τυγχάνουσι, τίς ὁ διερμηνεύσας λόγος; εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὑφεστήκασιν, οὐ μία ψυχή, καθὼς εἴρηται, ἀλλά τι συγκρότημα ψυχῶν ἐν ἡμῖν περιείληπται, ἑκάστου τούτων εἰς ἰδιάζουσαν καὶ περιγεγραμμένην ψυχὴν ἀποκεκριμένου. εἰ δέ τινα κίνησιν ἀνυπόστατον οἴεσθαι χρὴ ταῦτα εἶναι, πῶς κατακρατεῖ καὶ δυναστεύει ἡμῶν τὸ ἀνύπαρκτον καθάπερ ἐκ τυραννίδος ἡμᾶς δουλωσάμενον, ὅτιπερ ἂν τούτων κατακρατῆσαν τύχῃ; καὶ εἰ νοητόν τί ἐστιν ἡ ψυχή, πῶς ἐν τῷ νοητῷ θεωρεῖται τὸ πολυμερές τε καὶ σύνθετον, ἰδίως τῆς τοιαύτης ἐννοίας παρὰ τὰς σωματικὰς ταύτας ποιότητας θεωρουμένης; ἡ δὲ αὐξητικὴ δύναμις τῆς ψυχῆς ἥ τε ὀρεκτικὴ καὶ θρεπτικὴ καὶ ἀλλοιωτικὴ καὶ τὸ πάντα μὲν τὰ τοῦ σώματος τρέφεσθαι, μὴ διὰ πάντων δὲ διήκειν τὴν αἴσθησιν, ἀλλ' ἐπίσης τοῖς ἀψύχοις ἔνια τῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀμοιρεῖν τῆς αἰσθήσεως, ὀστέων καὶ χόνδρων ὀνύχων τε καὶ τριχῶν καὶ τρεφομένων καὶ οὐκ αἰσθανομένων; τὴν οὖν ἡμιτελῆ τῆς ψυχῆς ἐπὶ τούτων ἐνέργειαν τίς ὁ κατανοήσας, εἰπέ μοι; Καὶ τί περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς λέγω; ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτῆς τὸ τὰς σωματικὰς ἀναδεδεγμένον ποιότητας ἐναργεῖ τινι καταλήψει μέχρι τοῦ δεῦρο τεθήραται. ἐὰν γάρ τις τῷ λόγῳ τὸ φαινόμενον εἰς τὰ ἐξ ὧν σύγκειται διαλύσῃ καὶ ψιλώσας τῶν ποιοτήτων ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ κατανοῆσαι φιλονικήσῃ τὸ ὑποκείμενον, τί καταλειφθήσεται τῇ θεωρίᾳ, οὐ συνορῶ. ὅταν γὰρ ἀφέλῃς τοῦ σώματος τὸ χρῶμα, τὸ σχῆμα, τὴν ἀντιτυπίαν, τὸ βάρος, τὴν πηλικότητα, τὴν ἐπὶ τόπου θέσιν, τὴν κίνησιν, τὴν παθητικήν τε καὶ ἐνεργητικὴν διάθεσιν, τὸ πρός τί πως ἔχειν, ὧν ἕκαστον οὐδὲν ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ σῶμά ἐστι, περὶ δὲ τὸ σῶμα τὰ πάντα, τί λοιπὸν ἔσται, ὃ τὸν τοῦ σώματος δέχεται λόγον, οὔτε δι' ἑαυτῶν συνιδεῖν ἔχομεν οὔτε παρὰ τῆς γραφῆς μεμαθήκαμεν. ὁ δ' ἑαυτὸν ἀγνοῶν πῶς ἄν τι τῶν ὑπὲρ ἑαυτὸν ἐπιγνοίη; καὶ ὁ τῇ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ ἀγνοίᾳ προειθισμένος ἆρ' οὐχὶ φανερῶς δι' αὐτοῦ τούτου διδάσκεται πρὸς μηδὲν τῶν ἔξωθεν ἀποκεκρυμμένων ξενίζεσθαι; διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου στοιχεῖα τῇ μὲν αἰσθήσει τοσοῦτον γινώσκομεν, ὅσον τὸ ἀφ' ἑκάστου χρήσιμον πρὸς τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν δέχεσθαι, τὸν δὲ τῆς οὐσίας αὐτῶν λόγον οὔτε ἐμάθομεν οὔτε τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι ζημίαν ποιούμεθα. τί γάρ μοι πολυπραγμονεῖν τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν φύσιν, πῶς ἐκτρίβεται, πῶς ἐξάπτεται, πῶς τῆς παρακειμένης δρασσόμενον ὕλης οὐ πρότερον ἀποχωρεῖ πρὶν διαφαγεῖν καὶ ἐξαναλῶσαι τὸ ὑποκείμενον, πῶς λανθάνει ὁ σπινθὴρ τῷ λίθῳ ἐγκείμενος, πῶς ψυχρὸς ὢν τοῖς ἁπτομένοις ὁ σίδηρος ἀπογεννᾷ τὴν φλόγα, πῶς τριβόμενα πρὸς ἑαυτὰ τὰ ξύλα πῦρ ἀναδίδωσι, πῶς ἀπαυγάζον ἐν ἡλίῳ τὸ ὕδωρ φλόγα ποιεῖ, τῆς τε ἐπὶ τὸ ἄνω φορᾶς τὴν αἰτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀεικίνητον δύναμιν καὶ πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα παρέντες πολυπραγμονεῖν τε καὶ ἐξετάζειν μόνον τὸ ἀπ' αὐτοῦ χρήσιμον εἰς τὸν βίον ἑαυτῶν ἐνοήσαμεν, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐδὲν ἔλαττον ἔχει τοῦ πολυπραγμονοῦντος ὁ ἀπραγμόνως τὴν ὠφέλειαν δεχόμενος.