To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills.

For why should we not admire more the angels themselves and the blessed choirs of heaven?

Let some holy ambition invade our souls, so that, dissatisfied with mediocrity, we shall eagerly desire the highest things and shall toil with all our strength to obtain them, since we may if we wish.

It was not the part of His kindly love that he who was to praise God's divine generosity in regard to others should be compelled to condemn it in regard to himself.

On man when he came into life the Father conferred the seeds of all kinds and the germs of every way of life.

To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills.

The Pythagoreans degrade impious men into brutes and, if one is to believe Empedocles, even into plants.