You should not dare to speak of God to the multitude. He does not know God who does not worship him. The man who is worthy of God is also a God among men. It is better to have nothing, than to possess much and impart it to no one. He who thinks that there is a God, and that nothing is taken care of by him, differs in no respect from him who does not believe that there is a God. He honors God in the best manner who renders his intellect as much as possible similar to God. If you injure no one, you will fear no one. No one is wise who looks downward to the earth. To lie is to deceive in life, and to be deceived. Recognise what God is, and what that is in you which recognises God. It is not death, but a bad life, that destroys the soul. If you know him by whom you were made, you will know yourself. It is not possible for a man to live conformable to divinity, unless he acts modestly, well, and justly. Divine wisdom is true science. You should not dare to speak of God to an impure soul. The wise man follows God, and God follows the soul of the wise man. A king rejoices in those whom he governs, and therefore God rejoices in the wise man. He who governs likewise, is inseparable from those whom he governs; and therefore God is inseparable from the soul of the wise man, which he defends and governs. The wise man is governed by God, and on this account is blessed. A scientific knowledge of God causes a man to use few words. To use many words when speaking of God, produces an ignorance of God. The man who possesses a knowledge of God, will not be very ambitious. The erudite,[95] chaste, and wise soul, is the prophet of the truth of God. Accustom yourself always to look to Divinity. A wise intellect is the mirror of God. PYTHAGORIC SENTENCES, FROM THE PROTREPTICS OF IAMBLICHUS.[96] As we live through soul, it must be said that by the virtue of this we live well; just as because we see through the eyes, we see well through the virtue of these. It must not be thought that gold can be injured by rust, or virtue by baseness. We should betake ourselves to virtue as to an inviolable temple, in order that we may not be exposed to any ignoble insolence of soul with respect to our communion with, and continuance in life. We should confide in Virtue as in a chaste wife; but trust to Fortune as to an inconstant mistress. It is better that virtue should be received accompanied with poverty, than wealth with violence; and frugality with health, than veracity with disease. An abundance of nutriment is noxious to the body; but the body is preserved when the soul is disposed in a becoming manner. It is equally dangerous to give a sword to a madman, and power to a depraved man.