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

At last the best of artisans ordained that that creature to whom He had been able to give nothing proper to himself should have joint possession of whatever had been peculiar to each of the different kinds of being.

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

But in its final creation it was not the part of the Father's power to fail as though exhausted. It was not the part of His wisdom to waver in a needful matter through poverty of counsel.

God the Father, the supreme Architect, had already built this cosmic home we behold, the most sacred temple of His godhead, by the laws of His mysterious wisdom.

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

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