E4P10
Proposition — Part IV
Latin
Erga rem futuram quam cito affuturam imaginamur, intensius afficimur quam si ejus existendi tempus longius a præsenti distare imaginaremur et memoria rei quam non diu præteriisse imaginamur, intensius etiam afficimur quam si eandem diu præteriisse imaginaremur.
English (Elwes 1883)
Towards something future, which we conceive as close at hand, we are affected more intensely, than if we conceive that its time for existence is separated from the present by a longer interval; so too by the remembrance of what we conceive to have not long passed away we are affected more intensely, than if we conceive that it has long passed away.
Modern English
We are affected more intensely toward a future thing that we imagine as close at hand than if we imagined its time of existence to be far removed from the present. The memory of something we imagine not to have passed away long ago likewise affects us more intensely than if we imagined it as long past.