'Homini nihil' = 'nothing is more useful to man, than man.'
'Homo namque.' See on sect. 32.
'Constans voluntas.' See on sect. 35.
'Vitam concorditer transigere' = 'to live in harmony.'
Footnote on 'Libera multitudo,' II. 11 ('Hominem eatenus'). 'The
sense in which at all I call a man _free_ is in so far as he is
guided by reason; because thus far he is determined to action by
causes which can be adequately understood out of his nature alone,
although by them he be necessarily determined to action. For freedom
of action does not deny but affirms necessity.'
On Sect. 37. II. 15 ('Jus naturae'). See on sect. 32.
On Sect. 39. πόλις (polis) = state, including much that we mean by
'society.'
τέλος (telos) = end, aim, final cause.
πολίτης (polites) = citizen.
φύσει πολιτικός (phusei politikos) = social, or civic, by nature.
πολίτης μετέχει τοῦ ἄρχειν καὶ τοῦ ἄρχεσθαι (polites metechei) 'The
citizen takes his share both in governing and in being governed.'
On Sect. 40. Footnote, _Eth_. IV. _Appendix_, xxxii ('Ea quae').
'We shall bear with equanimity those things which happen to us
contrary to what a consideration of our own profit demands, if we are
conscious that we have performed our duty, that the power we have
could not reach so far as to enable us to avoid those things, and
that we are a part of the whole of nature, whose order we follow.
If we clearly and distinctly understand this, the part of us which
is determined by intelligence--that is to say, the better part of
us--will be entirely satisfied therewith, and in that satisfaction
will endeavour to persevere; for, in so far as we understand, we
cannot desire anything excepting what is necessary, nor absolutely
can we be satisfied with anything but the truth. Therefore, in so
far as we understand these things properly will the efforts of the
better part of us agree with the whole order of nature.' _Eth_. IV.
_Preface_ ('Per bonum'). 'By good, therefore, I understand in the
following pages everything which we are certain is a means by which
we may approach nearer and nearer to the model of human nature we
set before us.... Again, I shall call men more or less perfect or
imperfect in so far as they approach nearer and nearer to the model
of human nature we set before us.'
On Sect. 41. 'Nihil positivum in rebus in se consideratis' = 'nothing
positive in things considered in themselves.'
In all the quotations from Spinoza's_ Ethics_ Mr. Hales White's
translation has been followed.