There are thousands and thousands, I do not say only of important matters, but also of those which appear to be most trivial, which escape the human intellect.
From the same author.
No one may so far yield to unreasonable folly as to boast that he has seen the invisible God.
About the doctrine that God has made angels to be guardians of us.
The words of Philo, from the first book of the Questions arising in Genesis.
As pillars support whole houses, so also do the divine powers support the whole world, and that most excellent and God-loving race of mankind.
About avoiding sin.
From the treatise on the Giants.
I think it absolutely impossible that no part of the soul should become tainted, not even the outer most and lowest parts of it, even if the man appears to be perfect among men.
About slowness of counsel.
Slow counsel is profitless, and change of purpose in extremities is mischievous.
About heretical teachers, etc.
From the same book.
A teacher of a good and virtuous disposition, even if he sees his pupils at first stiff-necked by nature, does not despair of producing in them a change for the better; but, like a good physician, he does not apply a remedy at once at the first moment of the disease attacking the patient, but he gives nature time that it may recede a little, so that he may first make ready the path to safety, and then apply healthful and salutary remedies. And in the same manner does the virtuous man apply the arguments and doctrines of philosophy.
If, when a pupil is first introduced to you, and first comes to learn of you, you hasten to eradicate all his ignorance at once, and attempt to introduce every kind of knowledge in a lump, you will produce the contrary effect to that which you desire, for it will not be likely that such an eradication, having taken place all in a moment, will continue effectual, nor that the pupil will be able at once to contain such an abundant influx and overflow of instruction; but being exceedingly perplexed and troubled, he will resist both these operations, that of eradicating one thing and that of introducing another; but the system of taking away his ignorance with gentleness and moderation, and of, in the same manner, gently instilling wisdom into the mind, will be the causes of admitted advantage.
About people who meditate and design mischief.
The words of Philo, from his treatise on Things Improperly Named.
The ordinary production or wickedness enslaves the mind, even if it has not as yet produced any perfect fruit; for it is, as the proverb says, washing a brick, or taking up water in a net, to try and eradicate wickedness out of the soul of man. For “behold,” says Moses, “with what designs the minds of all men are Impressed.”{5}{#ge 8:21.} And he speaks truly, for he does not say, what designs are attached to and adapted to it, but that which has been considered with care and deliberation is also explained with accuracy, and this too not slowly and with difficulty, but from man’s earliest youth, or as one may almost say, from his very cradle, as if it were a part of him, kept in continual exercise.
About cowardly and wavering people.
Those who are unmanly from an innate effeminacy, falling down of their own accord before they meet with any opposition, are a disgrace and ridicule to themselves.
From the same author.
Wickedness in a foolish man has a twin offspring, for the foolish man is wavering and hesitating, mingling considerations together which ought not to be mingled, and humbling and confusing what ought to be kept distinct, having as many colours in his soul as a viper has in his body, and polluting even his sound thoughts with those which cause trouble and death.
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