E4P47S
Scholium — Part IV
Latin
Huc accedit quod hi affectus cognitionis defectum et mentis impotentiam indicant et hac de causa etiam securitas, desperatio, gaudium et conscientiæ morsus animi impotentis sunt signa. Nam quamvis securitas et gaudium affectus sint lætitiæ, tristitiam tamen eosdem præcessisse supponunt nempe spem et metum. Quo itaque magis ex ductu rationis vivere conamur eo magis spe minus pendere et metu nosmet liberare et fortunæ quantum possumus imperare conamur nostrasque actiones certo rationis consilio dirigere.
English (Elwes 1883)
We may add, that these emotions show defective knowledge and an absence of power in the mind; for the same reason confidence, despair, joy, and disappointment are signs of a want of mental power. For although confidence and joy are pleasurable emotions, they nevertheless imply a preceding pain, namely, hope and fear. Wherefore the more we endeavour to be guided by reason, the less do we depend on hope; we endeavour to free ourselves from fear, and, as far as we can, to dominate fortune, directing our actions by the sure counsels of wisdom.
Modern English
Add to this that these affects indicate a deficiency in knowledge and an impotence of mind. For this reason, confidence, despair, gladness, and remorse are also signs of a powerless mind. Although confidence and gladness are joy-affects, they still presuppose a preceding sadness, namely, hope and fear. The more we strive to live under the guidance of reason, therefore, the more we strive to depend less on hope, to free ourselves from fear, to command fortune as far as we can, and to direct our actions by the sure counsel of reason.