Marcus Tullius Cicero. Thoughts and sayings (№ 458538)

The origin of the soul cannot be found on earth. There is nothing mixed in it, nothing composite, nothing that could come from the earth, nothing that could be subordinated to a special form. You do not notice any of the natural properties of water, air or fire in it. Is there anything in these elements that has memory, intelligence, thought, preserves the past, anticipates the future and embraces the present? No; these qualities are divine; they could only be invested in a person by a deity. That which uses feeling, will, life is heavenly, divine and, therefore, eternal. Can we understand the gods otherwise than as simple beings, free, devoid of any transitory admixture, understanding everything, imparting movement to everything and spontaneously manifesting eternal activity?