54. No longer let thy breathing only act in concert with the air which
surrounds thee, but let thy intelligence also now be in harmony with the
intelligence which embraces all things. For the intelligent power is no
less diffused in all parts and pervades all things for him who is willing
to draw it to him than the aerial power for him who is able to respire
it.

55. Generally, wickedness does no harm at all to the universe; and
particularly the wickedness [of one man] does no harm to another. It is
only harmful to him who has it in his power to be released from it as
soon as he shall choose.

56. To my own free will the free will of my neighbor is just as
indifferent as his poor breath and flesh. For though we are made
especially for the sake of one another, still the ruling power of each of
us has its own office, for otherwise my neighbor's wickedness would be my
harm, which God has not willed in order that my unhappiness may not
depend on another.

57. The sun appears to be poured down, and in all directions indeed it is
diffused, yet it is not effused. For this diffusion is extension:
Accordingly its rays are called Extensions because they are extended. But
one may judge what kind of a thing a ray is, if he looks at the sun's
light passing through a narrow opening into a darkened room, for it is
extended in a right line, and as it were is divided when it meets with
any solid body which stands in the way and intercepts the air beyond; but
there the light remains fixed and does not glide or fall off. Such then
ought to be the outpouring and diffusion of the understanding, and it
should in no way be an effusion, but an extension, and it should make no