4p15d.md (1074B)
1 From the true knowledge of good and evil, in so far as 2 it is an emotion, necessarily arises desire (Def. of the 3 Emotions, i.), the strength of which is proportioned to the 4 strength of the emotion wherefrom it arises (III. xxxvii.). But, 5 inasmuch as this desire arises (by hypothesis) from the fact of 6 our truly understanding anything, it follows that it is also 7 present with us, in so far as we are active (III. i.), and must 8 therefore be understood through our essence only (III. Def. ii.); 9 consequently (III. vii.) its force and increase can be defined 10 solely by human power. Again, the desires arising from the 11 emotions whereby we are assailed are stronger, in proportion as 12 the said emotions are more vehement; wherefore their force and 13 increase must be defined solely by the power of external causes, 14 which, when compared with our own power, indefinitely surpass it 15 (IV. iii.); hence the desires arising from like emotions may be 16 more vehement, than the desire which arises from a true knowledge 17 of good and evil, and may, consequently, control or quench it. 18 Q.E.D. 19 20