Natural Inequality

Ex corporalibus consideremus spiritualia. Alius velox est pedibus, sed non fortis manu. Ille tardus incessu, sed stabilis in praelio est. Hic pulchram habet faciem, sed raucae vocis est. Alius tetram, sed dulci modulatione cantat. Illum ingeniosum, sed obliviosum: hunc memorem, sed tardi videmus ingenii. In ipsis controversiis, in quibus quondam pueri lusimus, non omnes similiter vel in prooemiis, vel in narrationibus, vel in excessibus, vel in argumentis, aut exemplorum copia, et epilogorum dulcedine se agunt: sed eloquentiae suae alia atque alia in parte dissimiles sunt. De viris magis ecclesiasticis loquar. Multi super Evangelia bene disserunt, sed in explanatione Apostoli impares sui sunt. Alii cum in Instrumento novo optime senserint, in Psalmis et veteri Testamento muti sunt. Hoc totum dico, quod non omnia possumus omnes: rarusque aut nullus est divitum, qui in omni substantia sua paria universa possideat. Sanctus Hieronymus, Dialogus Adversus Pelagianos, Liber I Source: Migne PL 23.517b-c

From corporeal things let us consider spiritual things. One man is swift-footed, but weak of grip. That man moves slowly but is immovable in battle. This man has a handsome face, but his voice grates. Another is ugly but sings sweetly. That man we see to be one of great ability yet he is forgetful, this one has a fine memory but he is slow of wit. In those rhetorical disputes we amused ourselves when we were boys, not all were alike in their introductions, or in the narrative, or in digressions, or in argument, or in wealth of illustrations, or in charm of peroration, but eloquence was dissimilar in this part and that. Of men of the Church I will say more. Many discourse well on the Gospels, but in explaining the Apostle's meaning are unequal to themselves. Others, although they excel in the New Testament, are mute when it comes to the Psalms and the Old Testament. Here I tell it all: 'Not everyone is able to do everything.' 1 Seldom or never is there found a rich man who in all his wealth has everything in equal amount. Saint Jerome, Dialogue Against the Pelagians, Book 1 1 cf Verg Ecl 7.23