E4P65D
Demonstration — Part IV
Latin
Bonum quod impedit quominus majore bono fruamur, est revera malum; malum enim et bonum (ut in præfatione hujus ostendimus) de rebus dicitur quatenus easdem ad invicem comparamus et (per eandem rationem) malum minus revera bonum est; quare (per corollarium propositionis 63 hujus) ex rationis ductu bonum tantum majus et malum minus appetemus seu sequemur. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
A good which prevents our enjoyment of a greater good is in reality an evil; for we apply the terms good and bad to things, in so far as we compare them one with another (see preface to this Part); therefore, evil is in reality a lesser good; hence under the guidance of reason we seek or pursue only the greater good and the lesser evil. Q.E.D.
Modern English
A good that prevents us from enjoying a greater good is really a bad. For good and bad are said of things insofar as we compare them with each other (E4Pref), and by the same reasoning a lesser bad is really a good. Therefore (E4P63C) under the guidance of reason we seek and pursue only the greater good and the lesser bad. Q.E.D.