Capítulo 26. Chapter XXVI.—Does The Art Of Living Arise In Mankind?
[3.26.250] Moreover, if the art of living comes into existence in men, it so comes either by nature or through learning and teaching. But if it is by nature, then the art of living will arise in them either in so far as they are men, or in so far as they are not men. Certainly not in so far as they are not men; for it is not a fact that they are not men. But if it is in so far as they are men, then prudence[557] would have belonged to all men, so that all would have been prudent and virtuous and wise. But they describe most men as bad.
[3.26.251] Neither, then, in so far as they are men will the art of living belong to them. Therefore it does not accrue by nature. And again, since they insist that art is ‟a system of co-exercised apprehensions,”[558] they make it evident that the art under discussion, as well as all other arts, is acquired rather by some sort of effort and learning.