Atque adeo quid plenius, dicere: Non occides, an docere: Ne irascaris quidem? Quid perfectius, prohibere adulterium, an etiam ab oculorum solitaria concupiscentia arcere? Quid eruditius, de maleficio, an et de maliloquio interdicere? Quid instructius, iniuriam non permittere, an nec vicem iniuriae sinere? Dum tamen sciatis ipsas leges quoque vestras quae videntur ad innocentiam pergere de divina lege, ut antiquiore forma, mutuatas.
And to come to the point, which is the ampler saying: Thou shalt not kill, or, Do not even be angry? Which is more perfect, to forbid adultery or to prohibit a single lustful look? Which is the deeper law, to restrain from doing evil or from even speaking it? Which is the more thorough, not to permit the doing of an injury or to allow no retaliation? Though at the same time you must recognize that your own laws, which seem to tend to innocence, drew from the divine law, which is the more ancient pattern.
final_alignments\Tertullian_Apology.json