ON SELF-KNOWLEDGE DEPENDS RECOGNITION OF DIVINE KINSHIP.

(In short), the divinity is not outside of any being. On the contrary,

He is present to all beings, though these may be ignorant thereof.

This happens because they are fugitives, wandering outside of Him or

rather, outside of themselves. They cannot reach Him from whom they

are fleeing, nor, having lost themselves, can they find another being.

A son, if angry, and beside himself, is not likely to recognize his

father. But he who will have learnt to know himself will at the same

time discover from where he hails.[199]

Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 1 In Chronological Order, Grouped in Four Periods · 第 291 / 467 题