There are always a considerable number who are infected by them: I have known many myself, and can assure you that no one who was an unbeliever in his youth ever persisted till he was old in denying the existence of the Gods.

The two other opinions, first, that the Gods exist and have no care of men, secondly, that they care for men, but may be propitiated by sacrifices and prayers, may indeed last through life in a few instances, but even this is not common.

I would beg of you to be patient, and learn the truth of the legislator and others; in the mean time abstain from impiety.

'So far, our discourse has gone well.' I will now speak of a strange doctrine, which is regarded by many as the crown of philosophy.

They affirm that all things come into being either by art or nature or chance, and that the greater things are done by nature and chance, and the lesser things by art, which receiving from nature the greater creations, moulds and fashions all those lesser works which are termed works of art.