Mixed precepts for exhortations reaching in common Κ
to all goods and all parts in philosophy and the ends of life, at which virtue aims.
What is symbolic exhortation and how it happens through ΚΑ
symbols, the unfolding, and the common meaning of symbols and
the meaning of each one individually, explaining how the exhortatory element
comes about from them alone, while setting aside the other treatise
regarding symbols for elsewhere.

p. 1 A. p. 8 K.

IAMBLICHUS OF CHALCIS IN COELE-SYRIA

10 ## EXHORTATION TO

PHILOSOPHY.

I. Regarding Pythagoras and the life according to him, and the Pythagorean men, we have spoken sufficiently in the preceding sections. Let us begin the remainder of his school from the preparation common to all education, learning, and virtue, which does not, by taking hold of a part, prepare the human being to be fit for one single thing among all things, but to speak simply, it exhorts the readiness within him toward all learning, all sciences, all noble and generous actions in life, all education, and to speak generally, all things that partake of the good. For neither is it possible without being exhorted to set out toward noble and generous pursuits, nor is it possible for one to be immediately prepared for the highest and most perfect good before creating a foundation for the soul through exhortation; but just as the soul advances little by little to greater things from lesser ones, passing through all noble things, and at the end finds the most perfect goods, so too must the exhortation proceed by a path, starting from common things.