Choose a topic from Part 1:
1. It is in accord with human nature to acquire knowledge,not to be born with knowledge already in the mind. The fact thatman, at birth, is unequipped with knowledge, is not a defect; it isa normal condition of nature. In the state of innocence, childrenwould doubtless have had a perfect aptitude for learning withoutdifficulty, and would have acquired knowledge readily as theyadvanced in age and experience. But they would not have possessedknowledge from birth.
2. And therefore children in the state of innocence wouldnot havehad the use of reason from earliest infancy. Theywould have come to the use of reason more readily and perfectlythan do children in the fallen state of mankind.
"A man should keep himself down, and not busy himself in mirabilibus super se."
St Philip Neri
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"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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