"The poets, therefore, however much they adorned the gods in their poems, and amplified their exploits with the highest praises, yet very frequently confess that all things are held together and governed by one spirit or mind"

This quote by Lactantius talks to the concept of a single, unifying force that governs the universe. He suggests that, despite the poets' propensity to glorify the gods in their works, they often recognize that there is a single, all-encompassing power that binds and controls all things. This power is described as "one spirit or mind," and it is this power that is responsible for the order and harmony of the universe. Lactantius' quote indicates that, while the gods might be applauded and commemorated, it is eventually this single, unifying force that is responsible for deep space's presence and its ongoing functioning. This idea of a single, unifying force is a common theme in numerous religious beliefs and viewpoints, and it is a principle that has actually been checked out and discussed for centuries.