Clement of Alexandria — Stromata 17

But, as appears, the philosophers of the Greeks, while naming God , do not know Him. But their philosophical speculations, according to Empedocles, as passing over the tongue of the multitude, are poured out of mouths that know little of the whole. For as art changes the light of the sun into fire by passing it through a glass vessel full of water, so also philosophy , catching a spark from the divine Scripture , is visible in a few. Also, as all animals breathe the same air, some in one way, others in another, and to a different purpose; so also a considerable number of people occupy themselves with the truth , or rather with discourse concerning the truth . For they do not say anything respecting God , but expound Him by attributing their own affections to God . For they spend life in seeking the probable, not the true .

But truth is not taught by imitation, but by instruction. For it is not that we may seem good that we believe in Christ , as it is not alone for the purpose of being seen, while in the sun, that we pass into the sun. But in the one case for the purpose of being warmed; and in the other, we are compelled to be Christians in order to be excellent and good. For the kingdom belongs pre-eminently to the violent, who, from investigation, and study, and discipline, reap this fruit, that they become kings. He, then, who imitates opinion shows also preconception. When then one, having got an inkling of the subject, kindles it within in his soul by desire and study, he sets everything in motion afterwards in order to know it. For that which one does not apprehend, neither does he desire it, nor does he embrace the advantage flowing from it.

Subsequently, therefore, the Gnostic at last imitates the Lord, as far as allowed to men , having received a sort of quality akin to the Lord Himself, in order to assimilation to God . But those who are not proficient in knowledge cannot judge the truth by rule. It is not therefore possible to share in the gnostic contemplations, unless we empty ourselves of our previous notions. For the truth in regard to every object of intellect and of sense is thus simply universally declared. For instance, we may distinguish the truth of painting from that which is vulgar, and decorous music from licentious. There is, then, also a truth of philosophy as distinct from the other philosophies, and a true beauty as distinct from the spurious.

It is not then the partial truths, of which truth is predicated, but the truth itself, that we are to investigate, not seeking to learn names. For what is to be investigated respecting God is not one thing, but ten thousand. There is a difference between declaring God , and declaring things about God. And to speak generally, in everything the accidents are to be distinguished from the essence . Suffice it for me to say, that the Lord of all is God ; and I say the Lord of all absolutely, nothing being left by way of exception. Since, then, the forms of truth are two — the names and the things — some discourse of names, occupying themselves with the beauties of words: such are the philosophers among the Greeks. But we who are Barbarians have the things.