letussupposeourselvestoselectsomeoneofthem，andgentlyreasonwithhim，smotheringouranger：-Omyson，wewillsaytohim，youareyoung，andtheadvanceoftimewillmakeyoureversemayoftheopinionswhichyounowhold。Waitawhile，anddonotattempttojudgeatpresentofthehighestthings；andthatisthehighestofwhichyounowthinknothing-toknowtheGodsrightlyandtoliveaccordingly。Andinthefirstplaceletmeindicatetoyouonepointwhichisofgreatimportance，andaboutwhichIcannotbedeceived：-YouandyourfriendsarenotthefirstwhohaveheldthisopinionabouttheGods。Therehavealwaysbeenpersonsmoreorlessnumerouswhohavehadthesamedisorder。Ihaveknownmanyofthem，andcantellyou，thatnoonewhohadtakenupinyouththisopinion，thattheGodsdonotexist，evercontinuedinthesameuntilhewasold；thetwoothernotionscertainlydocontinueinsomecases，butnotinmany；thenotion，Imean，thattheGodsexist，buttakenoheedofhumanthings，andtheothernotionthattheydotakeheedofthem，butareeasilypropitiatedwithsacrificesandprayers。AstotheopinionabouttheGodswhichmaysomedaybecomecleartoyou，Iadviseyougowaitandconsiderifitbetrueornot；askofothers，andaboveallofthelegislator。
InthemeantimetakecarethatyoudonotoffendagainsttheGods。Forthedutyofthelegislatorisandalwayswillbetoteachyouthetruthofthesematters。
Cle。Ouraddress，Stranger，thusfar，isexcellent。
Ath。Quitetrue，MegillusandCleinias，butIamafraidthatwehaveunconsciouslylightedonastrangedoctrine。
Cle。Whatdoctrinedoyoumean？