Somnium Scipionis, Part XXVI

“Since it is evident that this is eternal which is moved by its very self, who is there who denies that this nature has been given to souls? For everything which is driven by an external push is inanimate, but that which is animal, it is moved by its own and inner motion; for this is the peculiar nature and power of the soul; which, if it is one from all which moves itself, it is both certainly not born and it is eternal.

“You exercise this in the noblest things! But noblest are the cares concerning the prosperity of the fatherland, the soul driven and exercised by which will fly more swiftly into this seat and its own home; and it will do this more swiftly, if now, then, since it has been enclosed in the body, it will project out through the doors, and, contemplating those things which will be outside, as greatly as possible, it will drag itself away from the body. For the souls of those who have given themselves over to the pleasures of the body and put themselves forth as if servants of these things and violated the laws of gods and men by the impulse of lusts obedient to pleasures, having slipped away from the body they are rolled around the earth itself, nor do they return into this place except having been disturbed for many ages.”

He departed; I was released from my dream.