E4P66
Proposition — Part IV
Latin
Bonum majus futurum præ minore præsenti et malum præsens minus præ majore futuro ex rationis ductu appetemus.
English (Elwes 1883)
We may, under the guidance of reason, seek a greater good in the future in preference to a lesser good in the present, and we may seek a lesser evil in the present in preference to a greater evil in the future.[15]
[15] "Maltim praesens minus prae majori futuro." (Van Vloten). Bruder reads: "Malum praesens minus, quod causa est faturi alicujus mali." The last word of the latter is an obvious misprint, and is corrected by the Dutch translator into "majoris boni." (Pollock, p. 268, note.)
Modern English
Under the guidance of reason we seek a greater future good over a lesser present good, and we seek a lesser present bad over a greater future bad.