Direct quotation
Against Julian 3.26.64
In agreement with the holy Scriptures and the surest reason, we defend the absence of evil in nature in order to encourage people to strive for virtue. We insist that no height of virtue is so difficult that, with God’s help, a faithful mind cannot reach it. We therefore say that there is no necessity of evil in the flesh, so that everyone, created in a praiseworthy way, may be ashamed to live shamefully. In this way, praise of their inborn nobility brings a sense of shame to bear against disgraceful laziness.
There is no doubt that the overthrow of holiness, the pollution of chastity, and the ruin of morals fit his teachings—indeed, are inherent in them. He will not deny it: he turns the filth of bad conduct into an accusation against nature in order to remove sinners’ fear, and consoles their obscenities by insulting the apostles and all the saints. For he recalls that the apostle Paul, that golden vessel, often said: “I do not do the good that I want, but I do the evil that I hate” (Romans 7:15, 19), and similar things.
Latin
Haec enim quae a impudentibus impudenter laudatur, pudenda concupiscentia
tamquam Scripturis sanctis et rationi certissimae congruentes, eo proposito non esse in natura malum defendatis, ut ad virtutum studia homines incitetis; inculcantes nullum culmen ita arduum esse virtutis, ut non ad illud adiuvante Deo mens queat fidelis evadere; atque ob hoc dicatis non esse in carne mali necessitatem, ut erubescat unusquisque laudabiliter conditus, deformiter vivere, ac sic pudor turpi occurrat ignaviae de commendatione nobilitatis ingenitae
quod dubium non sit eversionem sanctitatis, contaminationem pudicitiae, morum labem nostris convenire, immo inesse dogmatibus: neque id esse me negaturum, qui ideo - sicut dicis - in naturae invidiam malae conversationis sordes refundo, ut peccantibus metum demam; quorum obscenitates, Apostolorum et sanctorum omnium consolor iniuriis, eo quod vas aureum apostolum Paulum saepe dixisse commemorem: Non enim quod volo bonum, hoc ago; sed quod odi malum, illud facio [n90]