Miscellanies 6.17.160

We have often said that by philosophy we mean whatever, in accordance with philosophy, attains the truth, even if it is partial. And indeed the good things in the arts, as such, have their beginning from God. For as doing something skillfully is contained in the theorems of the art, so acting prudently falls under prudence. Prudence is a virtue; and it is its property to know other things and, much earlier, the things concerning itself. And wisdom, being a power, is nothing other than scientific knowledge of divine and human goods. “The earth is God's, and its fullness.” Scripture has said this to teach that good things come to men from God, the distribution reaching down by divine power and might for human help. For instance, there are three ways of every benefit and imparting from one to another: one by close attendance, as the trainer shapes the boy; another by likeness, as one who urges another to progress by making progress first; the first cooperates with the learner, the second helps the one who receives. The third is the way by command, when the trainer no longer shapes the learner nor demonstrates the hold himself for the boy to imitate, but, as to one now more practiced, orders the hold by name.