strengthened makes all things its own, as the blazing fire makes flame
and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.

32. Let it not be in any man's power to say truly of thee that thou art
not simple or that thou art not good; but let him be a liar whoever shall
think anything of this kind about thee; and this is altogether in thy
power. For who is he that shall hinder thee from being good and simple?
Do thou only determine to live no longer unless thou shalt be such. For
neither does reason allow [thee to live], if thou art not such.

33. What is that which as to this material [our life] can be done or said
in the way most conformable to reason? For whatever this may be, it is in
thy power to do it or to say it, and do not make excuses that thou art
hindered. Thou wilt not cease to lament till thy mind is in such a
condition that, what luxury is to those who enjoy pleasure, such shall be
to thee, in the matter which is subjected and presented to thee, the
doing of the things which are conformable to man's constitution; for a
man ought to consider as an enjoyment everything which it is in his power
to do according to his own nature. And it is in his power everywhere.
Now, it is not given to a cylinder to move everywhere by its own motion,
nor yet to water nor to fire, nor to anything else which is governed by
nature or an irrational soul, for the things which check them and stand
in the way are many. But intelligence and reason are able to go through
everything that opposes them, and in such manner as they are formed by
nature and as they choose. Place before thy eyes this facility with which
the reason will be carried through all things, as fire upwards, as a
stone downwards, as a cylinder down an inclined surface, and seek for
nothing further. For all other obstacles either affect the body only,
which is a dead thing; or, except through opinion and the yielding of the
reason itself, they do not crush nor do any harm of any kind; for if they