Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

[That some wander and others move uniformly] may happen also because the bodies moving in a circle were compelled so from the beginning that some are borne along the same vortex, which is uniform, while others along another vortex which has certain irregularities. And it may also happen because, along the regions through which they are borne, in one place the extensions of air are uniform, thrusting them together in sequence in the same direction and burning them uniformly, while in another place they are irregular, so that the variations observed are brought to completion. But to assign a single cause for these things, when the phenomena call for explanations in multiple ways, is madness and done unsuitably by those who have zealously pursued vain astrology and assign causes of things to no purpose, whenever they in no way release the divine nature from servile tasks.

​That certain stars are observed to fall behind others happens both because they are carried round more slowly traversing the same circle, and because they move in the opposite direction while being pulled backward by the same vortex; and also because, while circling the same vortex, some revolve through a greater space and others through a lesser. But to pronounce simply about these things is fitting for those who wish to make marvels before the multitude. "Those called falling stars can be brought to completion both in part by the rubbing against themselves and by falling out from where the blast of wind occurred, just as we were saying in the case of lightning flashes;

​and also by the gathering of atoms productive of fire, a coalescence having occurred so as to bring this to completion, and by motion wherever the impetus originally occurred at the time of the gathering; and by the accumulation of wind in certain misty condensations, and its ignition through confinement, then the bursting forth of the surrounding parts, and its being borne toward whatever place the impetus of the rush occurred. And other ways of bringing this to completion are countless. "The weather signs that occur in connection with certain animals occur by a coincidence of the season. For animals do not bring forward any necessity for winter to be brought to completion, nor does any divine nature sit watching the exits of these animals and then accomplish these signs.

​For such foolishness would not fall upon any ordinary animal, even if it were a little cleverer, not to mention upon one who has acquired complete happiness. Remember all these things, Pythocles; for you will depart far from myth and will be able to survey what is kindred to these. Above all, give yourself over to the study of the first principles and of the infinite and of what is related to these, and furthermore of the criteria and the feelings, and of that for the sake of which we reason out these things; for these, especially when contemplated together, will make you easily survey the causes concerning individual phenomena. But those who have not cherished these to the highest degree would neither contemplate these very things well together nor have they acquired that for the sake of which one ought to contemplate them."

​Such are his opinions concerning celestial phenomena as well. Concerning matters of life and how we ought to choose some things and avoid others, he writes as follows. But first let us go through what he and his followers think concerning the wise person. Injuries from human beings arise either through hatred or envy or contempt, over which the wise person prevails through reasoning. Furthermore, one who has once become wise no longer takes on the opposite disposition, nor does he feign it voluntarily; he may be more subject to feelings, but they would not hinder his wisdom. Nor indeed could a wise person arise from every bodily condition, nor in every nation.