And among the other reasons for marvelling at the genius of the Divine Creator is, I believe, this,—that amid all this abundance there is no repetition; even seemingly similar things are, on comparison, unlike.
God has created all the great number of leaves that we behold: each, however, is stamped with its special pattern.
All the many animals: none resembles another in size—always some difference!
The Creator has set himself the task of making unlike and unequal things that are different; but all the virtues, as your argument states, are equal.
Therefore, they are not living things.
Book: Moral Letters Vol III
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the vitality of the soul and its attributes
Location: Chapter 113, Section 16
Content:
16.
And among the other reasons for marvelling at the genius of the Divine Creator is, I believe, this,—that amid all this abundance there is no repetition; even seemingly similar things are, on comparison, unlike.
God has created all the great number of leaves that we behold: each, however, is stamped with its special pattern.
All the many animals: none resembles another in size—always some difference!
The Creator has set himself the task of making unlike and unequal things that are different; but all the virtues, as your argument states, are equal.
Therefore, they are not living things.