Do Our Efforts Deserve the Credit?

Then Germanus said: The greatness of that splendid virtue described in last night’s discussion almost shuts us out, so to speak, from believing it possible. And in the same way, if you will forgive my saying so, it seems absurd to us that the reward of our efforts, that is, perfect chastity, which is gained by the earnestness of one’s own toil, should not be credited chiefly to the exertions of the man who makes the effort. For example, when we see a farmer taking the utmost pains over working his land, it would be foolish not to credit the harvest to his exertions.