Virtue worshipped

To face all that Fortune brings with steadiness and faith is the highest virtue a man may seek, whether he be the meanest or the most worshipful in the world. That is what the philosophers say,... 

Let them worship both those who have always been considered gods of heaven and those whose deeds have placed them in heaven Hercules, Liber, Aesculapius, Castor, Pollux, Quirinus. Furthermore, as to those praiseworthy qualities on account of which ascent into heaven is granted to humans - Intelligence, Virtue, Piety, Faith - let there be sanctuaries for them, but none for vices." ... 

At this point I ought not to let the modesty which you were kind enough to praise in your letter prevent me from speaking the truth. I want to say this if any of your governing, however informed by the virtues I listed, is directed only to the final aim of allowing human beings to suffer no unjust hardships in the flesh and if you think that it is no concern of yours to what purpose they put the peace that you struggle to provide for them (that is, to speak directly, how they worship the true God, with whom the fruit of all peaceful life is found), then all that effort towards the life of true blessedness will not benefit you at all. ... 

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