Whereforeamongmen，solongastheyareconsideredaslivingundertheswayofnature，hewhodoesnotyetknowreason，orwhohasnotyetacquiredthehabitofvirtue，actssolelyaccordingtothelawsofhisdesirewithassovereignarightashewhoordershislifeentirelybythelawsofreason。
16:12Thatis，asthewisemanhassovereignrighttodoallthatreasondictates，ortoliveaccordingtothelawsofreason，soalsotheignorantandfoolishmanhassovereignrighttodoallthatdesiredictates，ortoliveaccordingtothelawsofdesire。13ThisisidenticalwiththeteachingofPaul，whoacknowledgesthatprevioustothelaw-thatis，solongasmenareconsideredofaslivingundertheswayofnature，thereisnosin。
16:14Thenaturalrightoftheindividualmanisthusdetermined，notbysoundreason，butbydesireandpower。15Allarenotnaturallyconditionedsoastoactaccordingtothelawsandrulesofreason；nay，onthecontrary，allmenarebornignorant，andbeforetheycanlearntherightwayoflifeandacquirethehabitofvirtue，thegreaterpartoftheirlife，eveniftheyhavebeenwellbroughtup，haspassedaway。16
Nevertheless，theyareinthemeanwhileboundtoliveandpreservethemselvesasfarastheycanbytheunaidedimpulsesofdesire。17Naturehasgiventhemnootherguide，andhasdeniedthemthepresentpoweroflivingaccordingtosoundreason；sothattheyarenomoreboundtolivebythedictatesofanenlightenedmind，thanacatisboundtolivebythelawsofthenatureofalion。
16:18Whatsoever，therefore，anindividualconsideredasundertheswayofnaturethinksusefulforhimself，whetherledbysoundreasonorimpelledbythepassions，thathehasasovereignrighttoseekandtotakeforhimselfashebestcan，whetherbyforce，cunning，entreaty，oranyothermeans；consequentlyhemayregardasanenemyanyonewhohinderstheaccomplishmentofhispurpose。