Won't you look for the nature of good in rational beings? If it's not there, you won't find it anywhere else — not in plants or animals. What about plants and animals? Yes, they're God's work too. But they're not the highest things. They're not parts of the gods. But you are a higher being. You are a piece separated from God. You have part of him in yourself. Why don't you know your noble heritage? Why don't you know where you came from? When you eat, won't you remember who you are and whom you're feeding? When you're with others, when you're exercising, when you're having conversations — don't you know you're nourishing a god? You're exercising a god? You fool, you're carrying a god around with you and you don't even know it. Do you think I mean some god made of silver or gold — something external? You carry him inside yourself. And you don't realize you're polluting him with dirty thoughts and corrupt actions.
Will you not then seek the nature of good in the rational animal? for if it is not there, you will not choose to say that it exists in any other thing (plant or animal). What then? are not plants and animals also the works of God? They are; but they are not superior things, nor yet parts of the gods. But you are a superior thing; you are a portion separated from the Deity; you have in yourself a certain portion of him. Why then are you ignorant of your own noble descent? Why do you not know whence you came? will you not remember when you are eating who you are who eat and whom you feed? When you are in social intercourse, when you are exercising yourself, when you are engaged in discussion, know you not that you are nourishing a god, that you are exercising a god? Wretch, you are carrying about a god with you, and you know it not. Do you think that I mean some god of silver or of gold, and external? You carry him within yourself, and you perceive not that you are polluting him by impure thoughts and dirty deeds.