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Plotinus – The Enneads

What then is our course, what the manner of our flight?  This is not a journey for the feet; the feet bring us only from land to land; nor need you think of coach or ship to carry you away; all this order of things you must set aside and refuse to see; you must close your eyes and call instead upon another vision which is to be waked within you, a vision, the birthright of all, which few turn to use.

And this inner vision what it its operation?

Newly awakened it is all too feeble to bear the ultimate splendour.  Therefore the soul must be trained.....

Withdraw into yourself and look.  And if you do not find yourself beautiful yet, act as does the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful.  He cuts away here, he smoothes there, he makes this line lighter, this other purer, until a lovely face has grown upon his work.  So do you also; cut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring light to all that is overcast, labour to make all one glow of beauty and never cease chiselling your statue until there shall shine out on you from it the godlike splendour of virtue until you shall see the perfect goodness surely established in the stainless shrine.