Against Celsus 3.79

But if anyone imagines that in these matters there is superstition rather than wickedness in the many who believe the teaching, and accuses our teaching of making people superstitious, we shall say to him that, as one of the lawgivers said to the man who asked whether he had given the citizens the best laws, “Not the absolutely best, but the best of those they could receive,” so it might be said by the Father of the Christians' teaching: “I have given the best laws and teaching, of those which the many could receive, for the improvement of their character, threatening sinners not with false toils and punishments, but with true ones, necessary and applied for the correction of those who resist, though they do not wholly understand the intention of the one who punishes or the working of the toils.” For this too is said usefully and truly, and, for their benefit, with some concealment. But in general those who proclaim Christianity do not lead on wicked people. Nor do we insult the divine; for we say about him things that are true, and that seem clear to the many, but are not clear to them as they are to the few who practice philosophy in accordance with the word.