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29. Further, all men are to be loved equally. But since you
cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by
the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into
closer connection with you. For, suppose that you had a great deal of
some commodity, and felt bound to give it away to somebody who had
none, and that it could not be given to more than one person; if two
persons presented themselves, neither of whom had either from need or
relationship a greater claim upon you than the other, you could do
nothing fairer than choose by lot to which you would give what could not
be given to both. Just so among men: since you cannot consult for the
good of them all, you must take the matter as decided for you by a sort
of lot, according as each man happens for the time being to be more
closely connected with you.
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