But lest someone should say, "Then go all of you and kill yourselves, and so go now to God, and give us no trouble," I will tell the reason for which we do not do this, and the reason for which, when examined, we confess without fear. We have been taught that God did not make the world in vain, but for the sake of the human race; and we have said before that he takes pleasure in those who imitate the qualities that belong to him, but is displeased with those who embrace what is base, either in word or in deed. If, then, we should all kill ourselves, we would be the cause, so far as it lies with us, that no one should be born and instructed in the divine teachings, or even that the human race should cease to exist, and we ourselves would be acting contrary to the will of God if we did this. But when we are examined, we do not deny, because we are conscious to ourselves of nothing base, and we consider it impious not to speak the truth in all things, which we know to be pleasing also to God, and because we are now eager also to deliver you from your unjust prejudice.