Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.

If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the forms of the gods likes horses and oxen like oxen. Each would represent them with bodies according to the bodies of each. So the Ethiopians make their gods black and snub-nosed; the Thracians give theirs red hair and blue eyes.

It takes a wise man to recognize a wise man.

All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.

It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.

For all things come from earth, and all things end by becoming earth.

Ethiopians imagine their gods as black and snub-nosed; Thracians blue-eyed and red-haired. But if horses or lions had hands, or could draw and fashion works as men do, horses would draw the gods shaped like horses and lions like lions, making the gods resemble themselves.