E3D2
Definition — Part III
Latin
Nos tum agere dico cum aliquid in nobis aut extra nos fit cujus adæquata sumus causa hoc est (per definitionem præcedentem) cum ex nostra natura aliquid in nobis aut extra nos sequitur quod per eandem solam potest clare et distincte intelligi. At contra nos pati dico cum in nobis aliquid fit vel ex nostra natura aliquid sequitur cujus nos non nisi partialis sumus causa.
English (Elwes 1883)
I say that we act when anything takes place, either within us or externally to us, whereof we are the adequate cause; that is (by the foregoing definition) when through our nature something takes place within us or externally to us, which can through our nature alone be clearly and distinctly understood. On the other hand, I say that we are passive as regards something when that something takes place within us, or follows from our nature externally, we being only the partial cause.
Modern English
I say that we act when something takes place, within us or outside us, of which we are the adequate cause, that is, when something follows from our nature that can be clearly and distinctly understood through our nature alone. I say that we are passive when something takes place within us, or follows from our nature, of which we are only the partial cause.