E3P4D

Demonstration — Part III

Latin

Hæc propositio per se patet; definitio enim cujuscunque rei ipsius rei essentiam affirmat sed non negat sive rei essentiam ponit sed non tollit. Dum itaque ad rem ipsam tantum, non autem ad causas externas attendimus, nihil in eadem poterimus invenire quod ipsam possit destruere. Q.E.D.

English (Elwes 1883)

This proposition is self--evident, for the definition of anything affirms the essence of that thing, but does not negative it; in other words, it postulates the essence of the thing, but does not take it away. So long therefore as we regard only the thing itself, without taking into account external causes, we shall not be able to find in it anything which could destroy it. Q.E.D.

Modern English

This proposition is self-evident. The definition of any thing affirms that thing's essence; it does not negate it. It posits the essence; it does not remove it. So long as we attend to the thing itself and set aside external causes, we can find nothing in it that could destroy it. Q.E.D.