E5P27D
Demonstration — Part V
Latin
Summa mentis virtus est Deum cognoscere (per propositionem 28 partis IV) sive res tertio cognitionis genere intelligere (per propositionem 25 hujus); quæ quidem virtus eo major est quo mens hoc cognitionis genere magis res cognoscit (per propositionem 24 hujus) adeoque qui res hoc cognitionis genere cognoscit, is ad summam humanam perfectionem transit et consequenter (per 2 affectuum definitionem) summa lætitia afficitur idque (per propositionem 43 partis II) concomitante idea sui suæque virtutis ac proinde (per 25 affectuum definitionem) ex hoc cognitionis genere summa quæ dari potest oritur acquiescentia. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
The highest virtue of the mind is to know God (IV. xxviii.), or to understand things by the third kind of knowledge (V. xxv.), and this virtue is greater in proportion as the mind knows things more by the said kind of knowledge (V. xxiv.): consequently, he who knows things by this kind of knowledge passes to the summit of human perfection, and is therefore (Def. of the Emotions, ii.) affected by the highest pleasure, such pleasure being accompanied by the idea of himself and his own virtue; thus (Def. of the Emotions, xxv.), from this kind of knowledge arises the highest possible acquiescence. Q.E.D.
Modern English
The mind's highest virtue is to know God (E4P28), or to understand things by the third kind of knowledge (E5P25). This virtue is greater the more the mind knows things by that kind (E5P24). Accordingly, whoever knows things by this kind of knowledge passes to the highest human perfection and is therefore affected by the highest joy (E3DA2), accompanied by the idea of oneself and one's own virtue (E2P43). From this kind of knowledge there thus arises the highest possible self-contentment (E3DA25). Q.E.D.