For although all things happen in accordance with this truth, men seem unskilled indeed when they make trial of words and matters such as I am setting forth, in my effort to discriminate each thing according to its nature, and to tell what its state is. But other men fail to notice what they do when awake, in the same manner that they forget what they do when asleep. Eyes and ears are bad witnesses for men, since their souls lack understanding. They know not how to listen, nor how to speak. Seekers for gold dig much earth, and find little gold.
Nature loves to hide.
The lord at Delphi neither speaks nor conceals, but gives a sign. And the Sibyl with raving mouth, uttering words solemn, unadorned, and unsweetened, reaches with her voice a thousand years because of the god in her. What can be seen, heard, and learned, this I prize. Eyes are more exact witnesses than ears. This order, the same for all things, no one of gods or men has made, but it always was, and is, and ever shall be, an ever-living fire, kindling according to fixed measure, and extinguised according to fixed measure.