E4P66D
Demonstration — Part IV
Latin
Si mens rei futuræ adæquatam posset habere cognitionem, eodem affectu erga rem futuram ac erga præsentem afficeretur (per propositionem 62 hujus); quare quatenus ad ipsam rationem attendimus, ut in hac propositione nos facere supponimus, res eadem est sive majus bonum vel malum futurum sive præsens supponatur ac proinde (per propositionem 65 hujus) bonum futurum majus præ minore præsenti etc. appetemus. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
If the mind could have an adequate knowledge of things future, it would be affected towards what is future in the same way as towards what is present (IV. lxii.); wherefore, looking merely to reason, as in this proposition we are assumed to do, there is no difference, whether the greater good or evil be assumed as present, or assumed as future; hence (IV. lxv.) we may seek a greater good in the future in preference to a lesser good in the present, &c. Q.E.D.
Modern English
If the mind could have adequate knowledge of future things, it would be affected toward a future thing in the same way as toward a present one (E4P62). Therefore, insofar as we attend to reason itself — as this proposition assumes — it makes no difference whether the greater good or bad is future or present. Hence (E4P65) we seek the greater future good over the lesser present good, and we seek the lesser present bad over the greater future bad. Q.E.D.