4952. Some of those who are natural, have said that they do not know what to believe, for a destiny awaits everyone in keeping with the life he has led and also in keeping with his thoughts that result from the basic ideas of which he is firmly convinced. But I have told them in reply that it would have been sufficient if they had believed that God is the one who governs all things and that there is a life after death. In particular it would have been sufficient if they had not lived like a wild animal but as a human being should; that is to say, if they had loved God and exercised charity towards their neighbour, and had accordingly welcomed what was good and true and not been opposed to it, These people have then said that they had led that kind of life, but I have again replied that they had done so only in external actions. If laws had not stood in their way they would have made an attack on everyone's life and wealth in a fiercer way than any animal. To this they have responded that they had not known what charity towards the neighbour was nor known about anything internal, but I answered that they could not know these things because self-love and love of the world, also external interests, had occupied their entire thought and will.