Chapter XIX.—Testimony of Pythagoras.
And Pythagoras, son of Mnesarchus, who expounded the doctrines of his own philo-
sophy, mystically by means of symbols, as those who have written his life show, himself
seems to have entertained thoughts about the unity of God not unworthy of his foreign
residence in Egypt. For when he says that unity is the first principle of all things, and that
it is the cause of all good, he teaches by an allegory that God is one, and alone.781 And that
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this is so, is evident from his saying that unity and one differ widely from one another. For
he says that unity belongs to the class of things perceived by the mind, but that one belongs
to numbers. And if you desire to see a clearer proof of the opinion of Pythagoras concerning
one God, hear his own opinion, for he spoke as follows: “God is one; and He Himself does
not, as some suppose, exist outside the world, but in it, He being wholly present in the whole
circle, and beholding all generations; being the regulating ingredient of all the ages, and the
administrator of His own powers and works, the first principle of all things, the light of
heaven, and Father of all, the intelligence and animating soul of the universe, the movement
of all orbits.” Thus, then, Pythagoras.
781 Has no fellow.
Chapter XIX.—Testimony of Pythagoras.
750
Chapter XIX.—Testimony of Pythagoras.