On True Wisdom

...the depths of the sea. From ignorance arises pride as in the Psalms—by the reasoning I mentioned—always seeking the heavenly heights, so that it might crash down into the lowest depths with a more grievous fall. It is this pride which made demons out of angels as the prophet says and has made humans the equals of demons. Furthermore, from pride arises the ignorance of God, from which wretched despair frequently springs forth. But truly, without the fear of God and humility, who can presume to be saved? He alone is truly wise and understands himself who considers himself lowly and of little account. For he who thinks he is something great when he is nothing is self-deceived, and true wisdom is not in him.

¶ Orator: Continue, I beseech you! Continue, I say, to recount such life-giving words to me, which I have never heard until now. That is to say: for I see they are more conducive to salvation or more profitable... than anything contained in the books of Marcus Tullius Cicero, or Quintilian Marcus Tullius Cicero and Quintilian were the primary authorities on rhetoric and education in the classical and Renaissance worlds, or any of the others in my own proper library of oratory.

¶ Layman: I shall certainly continue indeed, and gladly so. That soul is truly wise and upright before God which considers the quality of its life, rather than its quantity. For indeed, as Lactantius Lactantius (c. 250–325 AD) was an early Christian author known as the "Christian Cicero" for his polished style says so beautifully and splendidly:

¶ “If we took as much care for living well as we do for merely living, we would keep a great distance from the nearly infinite labors in which human folly seethes—fleeing them as if they were superfluous and insane.”

¶ But alas, no one now—or only the very rarest person—cares in what manner about how well he lives, but only how long he might live. ¶ Yet it is within the power of all people to live well, while it is within the power of no one to live long. ¶ For what else is it to live long, but to be tortured for a long time? And the longer someone remains in this life, the more they are weighed down and burdened by a heavy pack of sins.

¶ And do you not see, O Orator—indeed, let any man see—how thus...