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AUGUSTINE'S DE TRINITATE BOOK X

  • 10.1 De studiis discere amantium quod ignorant, quod tamen non expeterent scire si penitus ignorarent. Chapter 1.— The Love of the Studious Mind, that Is, of One Desirous to Know, is Not the Love of a Thing Which It Does Not Know.
  • 10.2 Quibus causis amari videantur incognita cum ipsa scientia eorum quae nesciuntur expetitur. Chapter 2.— No One at All Loves Things Unknown.
  • 10.3 An incognita sibi sit mens cum se quaerit ut noverit. Chapter 3.— That When the Mind Loves Itself, It is Not Unknown to Itself.
  • 10.4 De propriis mentis quae non potest ignorare. Chapter 4.— How the Mind Knows Itself, Not in Part, But as a Whole.
  • 10.5 In quo mens nosse se debeat et a quibus abstinere ne eis quasi propriis delectetur atque ita se minus noverit. Chapter 5.— Why the Soul is Enjoined to Know Itself. Whence Come the Errors of the Mind Concerning Its Own Substance.
  • 10.6 In quibus mens de se cogitans possit errare. Chapter 6.— The Opinion Which the Mind Has of Itself is Deceitful.
  • 10.7 De opinionibus eorum qui mentem aliquid praecipuum corporis esse senserunt. Chapter 7.— The Opinions of Philosophers Respecting the Substance of the Soul. The Error of Those Who are of Opinion that the Soul is Corporeal, Does Not Arise from Defective Knowledge of the Soul, But from Their Adding There to Something Foreign to It. What is Meant by Finding.
  • 10.8 Quod mens nosse se quaerens nihil de se corporeum debeat cogitare. Chapter 8.— How the Soul Inquires into Itself. Whence Comes the Error of the Soul Concerning Itself.
  • 10.9 Quomodo mens cognoscat se ipsam. Chapter 9.— The Mind Knows Itself, by the Very Act of Understanding the Precept to Know Itself.
  • 10.10 Quod mens nosse se cupiens nihil eorum de se opinari debeat de quibus scit esse dubitandum. Chapter 10.— Every Mind Knows Certainly Three Things Concerning Itself— That It Understands, that It Is, and that It Lives.
  • 10.11 De memoria, intellegentia et voluntate in quibus habet in se quandam imaginem divinae trinitatis. De quaerenda imagine trinitatis etiam in his quae anima ex corporis sensibus concipit. Chapter 11.— In Memory, Understanding [or Intelligence], and Will, We Have to Note Ability, Learning, and Use. Memory, Understanding, and Will are One Essentially, and Three Relatively.
  • 10.12 Chapter 12.— The Mind is an Image of the Trinity in Its Own Memory, and Understanding, and Will.


Latin Latin
LIBER X
On the Trinity (Book X)
In which there is shown to be another trinity in the mind of man, and one that appears much more evidently, viz. in his memory, understanding, and will.
[10.1.1] Nunc ad ea ipsa consequenter enodatius explicanda limatior accedat intentio. Ac primum quia rem prorsus ignotam amare omnino nullus potest, diligenter intuendum est cuiusmodi sit amor studentium, id est non iam scientium sed adhuc scire cupientium quamque doctrinam. Et in his quippe rebus in quibus non usitate dicitur studium solent exsistere amores ex auditu dum cuiusque pulchritudinis fama ad videndum ac fruendum animus accenditur quia generaliter novit corporum pulchritudines ex eo quod plurimas vidit, et inest intrinsecus unde approbetur cui forinsecus inhiatur. Quod cum fit non rei penitus incognitae amor excitatur cuius genus ita notum est. Cum autem virum bonum amamus cuius faciem non vidimus, ex notitia virtutum amamus quas novimus in ipsa veritate. Ad doctrinas autem cognoscendas plerumque nos laudantium atque praedicantium accendit auctoritas, et tamen nisi breviter impressam cuiusque doctrinae haberemus in animo notionem, nullo ad eam discendam studio flagraremus. Quis enim sciendae verbi gratia rhetoricae ullam curam et operam impenderet nisi ante sciret eam dicendi esse scientiam? Aliquando etiam ipsarum doctrinarum fines auditos expertosue miramur et ex hoc inardescimus facultatem comparare discendo qua ad eos pervenire possimus, tamquam si litteras nescienti dicatur quandam esse doctrinam qua quisque valeat quamvis longe absenti verba mittere manu facta in silentio quae rursus ille cui mittuntur non auribus, sed oculis colligat idque fieri videat. Nonne dum concupiscit nosse quo id possit omni studio circa illum finem movetur quem iam notum tenet? Sic accenduntur studia discentium. Nam quod quisque prorsus ignorat amare nullo pacto potest.
1. Let us now proceed, then, in due order, with a more exact purpose, to explain this same point more thoroughly. And first, since no one can love at all a thing of which he is wholly ignorant, we must carefully consider of what sort is the love of those who are studious, that is, of those who do not already know, but are still desiring to know any branch of learning. Now certainly, in those things whereof the word study is not commonly used, love often arises from hearsay, when the reputation of anything for beauty inflames the mind to the seeing and enjoying it; since the mind knows generically wherein consist the beauties of corporeal things, from having seen them very frequently, and since there exists within a faculty of approving that which outwardly is longed for. And when this happens, the love that is called forth is not of a thing wholly unknown, since its genus is thus known. But when we love a good man whose face we never saw, we love him from the knowledge of his virtues, which virtues we know [abstractly] in the truth itself. But in the case of learning, it is for the most part the authority of others who praise and commend it that kindles our love of it; although nevertheless we could not burn with any zeal at all for the study of it, unless we had already in our mind at least a slight impression of the knowledge of each kind of learning. For who, for instance, would devote any care and labor to the learning of rhetoric, unless he knew before that it was the science of speaking? Sometimes, again, we marvel at the results of learning itself, which we have heard of or experienced; and hence burn to obtain, by learning, the power of attaining these results. Just as if it were said to one who did not know his letters, that there is a kind of learning which enables a man to send words, wrought with the hand in silence, to one who is ever so far absent, for him in turn to whom they are sent to gather these words, not with his ears, but with his eyes; and if the man were to see the thing actually done, is not that man, since he desires to know how he can do this thing, altogether moved to study with a view to the result which he already knows and holds? So it is that the studious zeal of those who learn is kindled: for that of which any one is utterly ignorant, he can in no way love.
[10.1.2] Ita etiam signum si quis audiat incognitum veluti verbi alicuius sonum quo quid significetur ignorat, cupit scire quidnam sit, id est sonus ille cui rei commemorandae institutus sit, veluti audiat cum dicitur 'temetum,' et ignorans quid sit requirat. Iam itaque oportet ut noverit signum esse, id est non esse inanem illam vocem sed aliquid ea significari; alioquin iam notum est hoc trisyllabum, et articulatam speciem suam impressit ammo per sensum aurium. Quid amplius in eo requiratur quo magis innotescat cuius omnes litterae omniaque soni spatia nota sunt nisi quia simul innotuit signum esse movitque sciendi cupiditatem cuius rei signum sit? Quo igitur amplius notum est sed non plene notum est, eo cupit animus de illo nosse quod reliquum est; si enim tantummodo esse istam vocem nosset eamque alicuius rei signum esse non nosset, nihil iam quaereret sensibili re quantum poterat sentiendo percepta. Quia vero non solum esse vocem sed et signum esse iam novit, perfecte id nosse vult; neque ullum perfecte signum noscitur nisi cuius rei signum sit cognoscatur. Hoc ergo qui ardenti cura quaerit ut noverit studioque accensus insistit, num potest dici esse sine amore? Quid igitur amat? Certe enim amari aliquid nisi notum non potest. Neque enim ille istas tres syllabas amat quas iam notas habet (quod si iam hoc in eis amat quia scit eas significare aliquid, non inde nunc agitur; non enim hoc nosse quaerit). Sed in eo quod scire studet quid amet inquirimus, quod profecto nondum novit, et propterea miramur cur amet quoniam firmissime novimus amari nisi nota non posse. Quid ergo amat nisi quia novit atque intuetur in rationibus rerum quae sit pulchritudo doctrinae qua continentur notitiae signorum omnium; et quae sit utilitas in ea peritia qua inter se humana societas sensa communicat ne sibi hominum coetus deteriores sint quavis solitudine si cogitationes suas conloquendo non misceant? Hanc ergo speciem decoram et utilem cernit anima et novit et amat, eamque in se perfici studet quantum potest quisquis vocum significantium quaecumque ignorat inquirit; aliud est enim quod eam in veritatis luce conspicit, aliud quod in sua facultate concupiscit. Conspicit namque in luce veritatis quam magnum et quam bonum sit omnes omnium gentium linguas intellegere ac loqui nullamque ut alienigenam audire et a nullo ita audiri. Cuius notitiae decus cogitatione iam cernitur amaturque res nota, quae ita conspicitur atque inflammat studia discentium ut circa eam moveantur eique inhient in omni opera quam impendunt consequendae tali facultati ut etiam usu amplectantur quod ratione praenoscunt, atque ita quisque cui facultati spe propinquat ei feruentius amore inardescit. Eis doctrinis quippe studetur uehementius quae capi posse non desperantur. Nam cuius rei adipiscendae spem quisque non gerit, aut tepide amat aut omnino non amat, quamvis quam pulchra sit videat. Quocirca quia omnium linguarum scientia fere ab omnibus desperatur, suae gentis quisque maxime studet ut noverit. Quod si et illi ad . perfectum percipiendae se non sufficere sentit, nemo tamen tam desidiosus est huius notitiae qui non cum audierit incognitum verbum velit nosse quid illud sit et si potest quaerat ac discat. Quod dum quaerit utique in studio discendi est et videtur amare rem incognitam, quod non ita est. Species namque illa tangit animum quam novit et cogitat in qua elucet decus consociandorum animorum in vocibus notis audiendis atque reddendis, eaque accendit studio quaerentem quidem quod ignorat, sed notam formam quo id pertineat intuentem et amantem. Itaque si quaerenti verbi gratia quid sit 'temetum' (hoc enim exempli causa posueram), dicatur: 'Quid ad te pertinet?', respondebit: 'Ne forte audiam loquentem et non intellegam, aut uspiam forte id legam et quid scriptor senserit nesciam.' Quis tandem huic dicat et: 'Noli intellegere quod audis; noli nosse quod legis'? Omnibus enim fere animis rationalibus in promptu est ad videndum huius peritiae pulchritudo qua hominum inter se cogitata significantium vocum enuntiatione noscuntur; propter hoc notum decus et ob hoc amatum quia notum studiose quaeritur verbum illud ignotum. Itaque cum audierit atque cognoverit 'temetum' a ueteribus vinum appellatum sed iam ex usu loquendi quem nunc habemus hoc vocabulum emortuum, propter nonnullos fortasse ueterum libros sibi necessarium deputabit. Si autem et illos superuacaneos habet, forte iam nec dignum quod memoriae commendet existimat quia videt ad illam speciem doctrinae quam notam mente intuetur atque amat minime pertinere.
2. So also, if any one hear an unknown sign, as, for instance, the sound of some word of which he does not know the signification, he desires to know what it is; that is, he desires to know what thing it is which it is agreed shall be brought to mind by that sound: as if he heard the word temetum uttered, and not knowing, should ask what it is. He must then know already that it is a sign, i.e. that the word is not an empty sound, but that something is signified by it; for in other respects this trisyllabic word is known to him already, and has already impressed its articulate form upon his mind through the sense of hearing. And then what more is to be required in him, that he may go on to a greater knowledge of that of which all the letters and all the spaces of its several sounds are already known, unless that it shall at the same time have become known to him that it is a sign, and shall have also moved him with the desire of knowing of what it is the sign? The more, then, the thing is known, yet not fully known, the more the mind desires to know concerning it what remains to be known. For if he knew it to be only such and such a spoken word, and did not know that it was the sign of something, he would seek nothing further, since the sensible thing is already perceived as far as it can be by the sense. But because he knows it to be not only a spoken word, but also a sign, he wishes to know it perfectly; and no sign is known perfectly, except it be known of what it is the sign. He then who with ardent carefulness seeks to know this, and inflamed by studious zeal perseveres in the search; can such an one be said to be without love? What then does he love? For certainly nothing can be loved unless it is known. For that man does not love those three syllables which he knows already. But if he loves this in them, that he knows them to signify something, this is not the point now in question, for it is not this which he seeks to know. But we are now asking what it is he loves, in that which he is desirous to know, but which certainly he does not yet know; and we are therefore wondering why he loves, since we know most assuredly that nothing can be loved unless it be known. What then does he love, except that he knows and perceives in the reason of things what excellence there is in learning, in which the knowledge of all signs is contained; and what benefit there is in the being skilled in these, since by them human fellowship mutually communicates its own perceptions, lest the assemblies of men should be actually worse than utter solitude, if they were not to mingle their thoughts by conversing together? The soul, then, discerns this fitting and serviceable species, and knows it, and loves it; and he who seeks the meaning of any words of which he is ignorant, studies to render that species perfect in himself as much as he can: for it is one thing to behold it in the light of truth, another to desire it as within his own capacity. For he beholds in the light of truth how great and how good a thing it is to understand and to speak all tongues of all nations, and so to hear no tongue and to be heard by none as from a foreigner. The beauty, then, of this knowledge is already discerned by thought, and the thing being known is loved; and that thing is so regarded, and so stimulates the studious zeal of learners, that they are moved with respect to it, and desire it eagerly in all the labor which they spend upon the attainment of such a capacity, in order that they may also embrace in practice that which they know beforehand by reason. And so every one, the nearer he approaches that capacity in hope, the more fervently desires it with love; for those branches of learning are studied the more eagerly, which men do not despair of being able to attain; for when any one entertains no hope of attaining his end, then he either loves lukewarmly or does not love at all, howsoever he may see the excellence of it. Accordingly, because the knowledge of all languages is almost universally felt to be hopeless, every one studies most to know that of his own nation; but if he feels that he is not sufficient even to comprehend this perfectly, yet no one is so indolent in this knowledge as not to wish to know, when he hears an unknown word, what it is, and to seek and learn it if he can. And while he is seeking it, certainly he has a studious zeal of learning, and seems to love a thing he does not know; but the case is really otherwise. For that species touches the mind, which the mind knows and thinks, wherein the fitness is clearly visible which accrues from the associating of minds with one another, in the hearing and returning of known and spoken words. And this species kindles studious zeal in him who seeks what indeed he knows not, but gazes upon and loves the unknown form to which that pertains. If then, for example, any one were to ask, What is temetum (for I had instanced this word already), and it were said to him, What does this matter to you? He will answer, Lest perhaps I hear some one speaking, and understand him not; or perhaps read the word somewhere, and know not what the writer meant. Who, pray, would say to such an inquirer, Do not care about understanding what you hear; do not care about knowing what you read? For almost every rational soul quickly discerns the beauty of that knowledge, through which the thoughts of men are mutually made known by the enunciation of significant words; and it is on account of this fitness thus known, and because known therefore loved, that such an unknown word is studiously sought out. When then he hears and learns that wine was called temetum by our forefathers, but that the word is already quite obsolete in our present usage of language, he will think perhaps that he has still need of the word on account of this or that book of those forefathers. But if he holds these also to be superfluous, perhaps he does now come to think the word not worth remembering, since he sees it has nothing to do with that species of learning which he knows with the mind, and gazes upon, and so loves.
[10.1.3] Quamobrem omnis amor studentis animi, hoc est volentis scire quod nescit, non est amor eius rei quam nescit sed eius quam scit propter quam vult scire quod nescit. Aut si tam curiosus est ut non propter aliquam notam causam sed solo amore rapiatur incognita sciendi, discernendus quidem est ab studiosi nomine iste curiosus; sed nec ipse amat incognita, immo congruentius dicitur, 'odit incognita,' quae nulla esse vult dum vult omnia cognita. Sed ne quisquam nobis difficiliorem referat quaestionem asserens tam non posse quemquam odisse quod nescit quam non potest amare quod nescit, non resistimus veris, sed intellegendum est non hoc idem dici cum dicitur: 'Amat scire incognita,' ac si diceretur: 'Amat incognita'; illud enim fieri potest ut amet quisque scire incognita, ut autem amet incognita non potest. Non enim frustra ibi est positum 'scire' quoniam qui scire amat incognita non ipsa incognita sed ipsum scire amat. Quod nisi haberet cognitum, neque scire se quidquam posset fidenter dicere neque nescire. Non solum enim qui dicit: 'Scio,' et verum dicit necesse est ut quid sit scire sciat; sed etiam qui dicit: 'Nescio,' idque fidenter et verum dicit et scit verum se dicere, scit utique quid sit scire quia et discernit ab sciente nescientem cum veraciter se intuens dicit: 'Nescio'. Et cum id se scit verum dicere, unde sciret si quid sit scire nesciret?
3. Wherefore in all cases the love of a studious mind, that is, of one that wishes to know what it does not know, is not the love of that thing which it does not know, but of that which it knows; on account of which it wishes to know what it does not know. Or if it is so inquisitive as to be carried away, not for any other cause known to it, but by the mere love of knowing things unknown; then such an inquisitive person is, doubtless distinguishable from an ordinary student, yet does not, any more than he, love things he does not know; nay, on the contrary, he is more fitly said to hate things he knows not, of which he wishes that there should be none, in wishing to know everything. But lest any one should lay before us a more difficult question, by declaring that it is just as impossible for any one to hate what he does not know, as to love what he does not know, we will not withstand what is true; but it must be understood that it is not the same thing to say he loves to know things unknown, as to say he loves things unknown. For it is possible that a man may love to know things unknown; but it is not possible that he should love things unknown. For the word to know is not placed there without meaning; since he who loves to know things unknown, does not love the unknown things themselves, but the knowing of them. And unless he knew what knowing means, no one could say confidently, either that he knew or that he did not know. For not only he who says I know, and says so truly, must needs know what knowing is; but he also who says, I do not know, and says so confidently and truly, and knows that he says so truly, certainly knows what knowing is; for he both distinguishes him who does not know from him who knows, when he looks into himself and says truly I do not know; and whereas he knows that he says this truly, whence should he know it, if he did not know what knowing is?
[10.2.4] Quilibet igitur studiosus, quilibet curiosus non amat incognita etiam cum ardentissimo appetitu instat scire quod nescit. Aut enim iam genere notum habet quod amat idque nosse expetit etiam in aliqua singula vel in singulis rebus quae illi nondum notae forte laudantur, fingitque animo imaginariam formam qua excitetur in amorem. (Unde autem fingit nisi ex his quae iam noverat? Cuius tamen formae animo figuratae atque in cogitatione notissimae si eam quae laudabatur dissimilem invenerit, fortasse non amabit; quod si amaverit, ex illo amare incipiet ex quo didicit. Paulo ante quippe alla erat quae amabatur quam sibi animus formans exhibere consueuerat. Si autem ilk formae similem invenerit quam fame praedicaverat cui vere possit dicere: 'Iam te amabam,' nec tunc utique amabat incognitam quam in illa similitudine noverat.) Aut in specie sempiternae rationis videmus aliquid et ibi amamus, quod cum expressum in aliqua rei temporalis effigie illis qui expert) sunt laudantibus credimus et amamus, non aliquid amamus incognitum unde iam supra satis disseruimus. Aut aliquid notum amamus propter quod ignotum aliquid quaerimus, cuius ignoti amor nequaquam nos tenet sed illius cogniti quo pertinere novimus ut illud etiam quod adhuc ignotum quaerimus noverimus sicut de incognito verbo paulo ante locutus sum. Aut ipsum scire quisque amat, quod nulli scire aliquid cupienti esse incognitum potest. His causis videntur amare incognita qui scire aliquid volunt quod nesciunt et propter ardentiorem quaerendi appetitum sine amore esse dici non possum. Sed quam se res aliter habeas neque omnino quidquam ametur incognitum, arbitror me persuasisse verum diligenter intuentibus. Sed quia exempla quae dedimus eorum sunt qui aliquid quod ipsi non sunt nosse cupiunt, videndum est ne forte aliquod nouum genus appareat cum se ipsa mens nosse desiderat.
4. No studious person, then, no inquisitive person, loves things he does not know, even while he is urgent with the most vehement desire to know what he does not know. For he either knows already generically what he loves, and longs to know it also in some individual or individuals, which perhaps are praised, but not yet known to him; and he pictures in his mind an imaginary form by which he may be stirred to love. And whence does he picture this, except from those things which he has already known? And yet perhaps he will not love it, if he find that form which was praised to be unlike that other form which was figured and in thought most fully known to his mind. And if he has loved it, he will begin to love it from that time when he learned it; since a little before, that form which was loved was other than that which the mind that formed it had been wont to exhibit to itself. But if he shall find it similar to that form which report had proclaimed, and to be such that he could truly say I was already loving you; yet certainly not even then did he love a form he did not know, since he had known it in that likeness. Or else we see somewhat in the species of the eternal reason, and therein love it; and when this is manifested in some image of a temporal thing, and we believe the praises of those who have made trial of it, and so love it, then we do not love anything unknown, according to that which we have already sufficiently discussed above. Or else, again, we love something known, and on account of it seek something unknown; and so it is by no means the love of the thing unknown that possesses us, but the love of the thing known, to which we know the unknown thing belongs, so that we know that too which we seek still as unknown; as a little before I said of an unknown word. Or else, again, every one loves the very knowing itself, as no one can fail to know who desires to know anything. For these reasons they seem to love things unknown who wish to know anything which they do not know, and who, on account of their vehement desire of inquiry, cannot be said to be without love. But how different the case really is, and that nothing at all can be loved which is not known, I think I must have persuaded every one who carefully looks upon truth. But since the examples which we have given belong to those who desire to know something which they themselves are not, we must take thought lest perchance some new notion appear, when the mind desires to know itself.
[10.3.5] Quid ergo amat mens cum ardenter se ipsam quaerit ut noverit dum incognita sibi est? Ecce enim mens semetipsam quaerit ut noverit et inflammatur hoc studio. Amat igitur. Sed quid amat? Si se ipsam, quomodo cum se nondum noverit, nec quisquam possit amare quod nescit? An ei fame praedicavit speciem suam sicut de absentibus solemus audire? Forte ergo non se amat, sed quod de se fingit hoc amat longe fortasse aliud quam ipsa est. Aut si se mens sui similem fingit et ideo cum hoc figmentum amat se amat antequam noverit quia id quod sui simile est intuetur, novit ergo alias menses ex quibus se fingat et genere ipso sibi note est. Cur ergo cum alias menses novit se non novit cum se ipsa nihil sibi possit esse praesentius? Quod si ut oculis corporis magis alii oculi noti sunt quam ipsi sibi, non se ergo quaerat numquam inventura; numquam enim se oculi praeter specula videbunt, nec ullo modo putandum est etiam rebus incorporeis contemplandis tale aliquid adhiberi ut mens tamquam in speculo se noverit. An in ratione veritatis aeternae videt quam speciosum sit nosse semetipsam et hoc amat quod videt studetque in se fieri quia, quamvis sibi note non sit, notum ei tamen est quam bonum sit ut sibi note sit? Et hoc quidem permirabile est nondum se nosse et quam sit pulchrum se nosse iam nosse. An aliquem finem optimum, id est securitatem et beatitudinem suam, videt per quandam occultam memoriam quae in longinqua eam progressam non deseruit, et credit ad eundem finem nisi se ipsam cognoverit se pervenire non posse? Ita dum illud amat hoc quaerit, et notum amat illud propter quod quaerit ignotum. Sed cur memoria beatitudinis suae potuit et memoria sui cum ea perdurare non potuit ut tam se nosset quae vult pervenire quam novit illud quo vult pervenire? An cum se nosse amat, non se quam nondum novit sed ipsum nosse amat acerbiusque tolerat se ipsam deesse scientiae suae qua vult cuncta comprehendere? Novit autem quid sit nosse, et dum hoc amat quod novit etiam se cupit nosse. Ubi ergo nosse suum novit si se non novit? Nam novit quod alla noverit, se autem non noverit; hinc enim novit et quid sit nosse. Quo pacto igitur se aliquid scientem scit quae se ipsam nescit? Neque enim alteram mentem scientem scit sed se ipsam. Scit igitur se ipsam. Deinde cum se quaerit ut noverit, quaerentem se iam novit. Iam se ergo novit. Quapropter non potest omnino nescire se quae dum se nescientem scit se utique scit. Si autem se nescientem nesciat, non se quaeret ut sciat. Quapropter eo ipso quo se quaerit magis se sibi notam quam ignotam esse conuincitur. Novit enim se quaerentem atque nescientem dum se quaerit ut noverit.
5. What, then, does the mind love, when it seeks ardently to know itself, while it is still unknown to itself? For, behold, the mind seeks to know itself, and is excited thereto by studious zeal. It loves, therefore; but what does it love? Is it itself? But how can this be when it does not yet know itself, and no one can love what he does not know? Is it that report has declared to it its own species, in like way as we commonly hear of people who are absent? Perhaps, then, it does not love itself, but loves that which it imagines of itself, which is perhaps widely different from what itself is: or if the phantasy in the mind is like the mind itself, and so when it loves this fancied image, it loves itself before it knew itself, because it gazes upon that which is like itself; then it knew other minds from which to picture itself, and so is known to itself generically. Why, then, when it knows other minds, does it not know itself, since nothing can possibly be more present to it than itself? But if, as other eyes are more known to the eyes of the body, than those eyes are to themselves; then let it not seek itself, because it never will find itself. For eyes can never see themselves except in looking-glasses; and it cannot be supposed in any way that anything of that kind can be applied also to the contemplation of incorporeal things, so that the mind should know itself, as it were, in a looking-glass. Or does it see in the reason of eternal truth how beautiful it is to know one's self, and so loves this which it sees, and studies to bring it to pass in itself? Because, although it is not known to itself, yet it is known to it how good it is, that it should be known to itself. And this, indeed, is very wonderful, that it does not yet know itself, and yet knows already how excellent a thing it is to know itself. Or does it see some most excellent end, viz. its own serenity and blessedness, by some hidden remembrance, which has not abandoned it, although it has gone far onwards, and believes that it cannot attain to that same end unless it know itself? And so while it loves that, it seeks this; and loves that which is known, on account of which it seeks that which is unknown. But why should the remembrance of its own blessedness be able to last, and the remembrance of itself not be able to last as well; that so it should know itself which wishes to attain, as well as know that to which it wishes to attain? Or when it loves to know itself, does it love, not itself, which it does not yet know, but the very act of knowing; and feel the more annoyed that itself is wanting to its own knowledge wherewith it wishes to embrace all things? And it knows what it is to know; and while it loves this, which it knows, desires also to know itself. Whereby, then, does it know its own knowing, if it does not know itself? For it knows that it knows other things, but that it does not know itself; for it is from hence that it knows also what knowing is. In what way, then, does that which does not know itself, know itself as knowing anything? For it does not know that some other mind knows, but that itself does so. Therefore it knows itself. Further, when it seeks to know itself, it knows itself now as seeking. Therefore again it knows itself. And hence it cannot altogether not know itself, when certainly it does so far know itself as that it knows itself as not knowing itself. But if it does not know itself not to know itself, then it does not seek to know itself. And therefore, in the very fact that it seeks itself, it is clearly convicted of being more known to itself than unknown. For it knows itself as seeking and as not knowing itself, in that it seeks to know itself.
[10.3.6] Quid ergo dicemus? An quod ex parte se novit, ex parse non novit? Sed absurdum est dicere non eam totem scire quod scit. Non dico: 'Totum scit,' sed: 'Quod scit tote scit.' Cum itaque aliquid de se scit quod nisi tote non potest, totem se scit. Scit autem se aliquid scientem, nec potest quidquam scire nisi tote. Scit se igitur totem. Deinde quid eius ei tam notum est quam se vivere?
6. What then shall we say? Does that which knows itself in part, not know itself in part? But it is absurd to say, that it does not as a whole know what it knows. I do not say, it knows wholly; but what it knows, it as a whole knows. When therefore it knows anything about itself, which it can only know as a whole, it knows itself as a whole. But it does know that itself knows something, while yet except as a whole it cannot know anything. Therefore it knows itself as a whole. Further, what in it is so known to itself, as that it lives?
[10.4.6] Non potest autem et mens esse et non vivere quando habet etiam amplius ut intellegat, nam et animae bestiarum vivunt sed non intellegunt. Sicut ergo mens tote mens est, sic tote vivit. Novit autem vivere se; totem se igitur novit. Postremo cum se nosse mens quaerit, mentem se esse iam novit; alioquin utrum se quaerat ignorat, et aliud pro alio forsitan quaerat. Fieri enim potest ut ipsa non sit mens, atque ita dum mentem nosse quaerit non se ipsam quaerat. Quapropter quoniam cum quaerit mens quid sit mens novit quod se quaerat, profecto novit quod ipsa sit mens. Porro si hoc in se novit quod mens est et tote mens est, totem se novit. Sed ecce non se noverit esse mentem cum autem se quaerit; hoc tantummodo noverit quod se quaerat. Potest enim etiam sic aliud pro alio quaerere si hoc nescit, ut autem non quaerat aliud pro alto, procul dubio novit quid quaerat. At si novit quid quaerat et se ipsam quaerit, se ipsam utique novit. Quid ergo adhuc quaerit? Quod si ex parse se novit, ex parse autem adhuc quaerit, non se ipsam sed partem suam quaerit; cum enim ea ipsa dicitur, tote dicitur. Deinde quia novit nondum se a se inventam totem, novit quanta sit tota. Atque ita quaerit quod deest quemadmodum solemus quaerere ut veniat in mentem quod excidit, nec tamen penitus excidit quia potest recognosci cum venerit hoc esse quod quaerebatur. Sed quomodo mens veniat in mentem quasi possit mens in mente non esse? Huc accedit quia si parse inventa, non se totem quaerit; tamen tote se quaerit. Tota ergo sibi praesto est, et quid adhuc quaeratur non est; hoc enim deest quod quaeritur, non illa quae quaerit. Cum itaque tote se quaerit, nihil eius deest. Aut si non tote se quaerit sed pars quae inventa est quaerit partem quae nondum inventa est, non se ergo mens quaerit cuius se nulla pars quaerit. Pars enim quae inventa est non se quaerit; pars autem quae nondum inventa est nec ipsa se quaerit quondam ab ea quae iam inventa est parse quaeritur. Quocirca quia nec tote se quaerit mens nec pars eius ulla se quaerit, se mens omnino non quaerit.
And it cannot at once be a mind, and not live, while it has also something over and above, viz., that it understands: for the souls of beasts also live, but do not understand. As therefore a mind is a whole mind, so it lives as a whole. But it knows that it lives. Therefore it knows itself as a whole. Lastly, when the mind seeks to know itself, it already knows that it is a mind: otherwise it knows not whether it seeks itself, and perhaps seeks one thing while intending to seek another. For it might happen that itself was not a mind, and so, in seeking to know a mind, that it did not seek to know itself. Wherefore since the mind, when it seeks to know what mind is, knows that it seeks itself, certainly it knows that itself is a mind. Furthermore, if it knows this in itself, that it is a mind, and a whole mind, then it knows itself as a whole. But suppose it did not know itself to be a mind, but in seeking itself only knew that it sought itself. For so, too, it may possibly seek one thing for another, if it does not know this: but that it may not seek one thing for another, without doubt it knows what it seeks. But if it knows what it seeks, and seeks itself, then certainly it knows itself. What therefore more does it seek? But if it knows itself in part, but still seeks itself in part, then it seeks not itself, but part of itself. For when we speak of the mind itself, we speak of it as a whole. Further, because it knows that it is not yet found by itself as a whole, it knows how much the whole is. And so it seeks that which is wanting, as we are wont to seek to recall to the mind something that has slipped from the mind, but has not altogether gone away from it; since we can recognize it, when it has come back, to be the same thing that we were seeking. But how can mind come into mind, as though it were possible for the mind not to be in the mind? Add to this, that if, having found a part, it does not seek itself as a whole, yet it as a whole seeks itself. Therefore as a whole it is present to itself, and there is nothing left to be sought: for that is wanting which is sought, not the mind which seeks. Since therefore it as a whole seeks itself, nothing of it is wanting. Or if it does not as a whole seek itself, but the part which has been found seeks the part which has not yet been found then the mind does not seek itself, of which no part seeks itself. For the part which has been found, does not seek itself; nor yet does the part itself which has not yet been found, seek itself; since it is sought by that part which has been already found. Wherefore, since neither the mind as a whole seeks itself, nor does any part of it seek itself, the mind does not seek itself at all.
[10.5.7] Utquid ergo ei praeceptum est ut se ipsa cognoscat? Credo ut se cogitet et secundum naturam suam vivat, id est ut secundum suam naturam ordinari appetat, sub eo scilicet cui subdenda est, supra ea quibus praeponenda est; sub illo a quo regi debet, supra ea quae regere debet. Multa enim per cupiditatem prauam tamquam sui sit oblita sic agit. Videt enim quaedam intrinsecus pulchra in praestantiore natura quae deus est. Et cum stare debeat ut eis fruatur, volens ea sibi tribuere et non ex illo similis illius sed ex se ipsa esse quod ille est avertitur ab eo, moveturque et labitur in minus et minus quod putatur amplius et amplius quia nec ipsa sibi nec ei quidquam sufficit recedenti ab illo qui solus aufficit. Ideoque per egestatem ac difficultatem fit nimis intenta in actiones sues et inquietas delectationes quas per eas colligit; atque ita cupiditate adquirendi notitias ex his quae foris sunt, quorum cognitum genus amat et sentit amitti posse nisi impensa cure teneantur, perdit securitatem, tantoque se ipsam minus cogitat quanto magis secure est quod se non possit amittere. Ita cum aliud sit non se nosse, aliud non se cogitare (neque enim multarum doctrinarum peritum ignorare grammaticam dicimus cum eam non cogitat quia de medicinae arte tunc cogitat), cum ergo aliud sit non se nosse, aliud non se cogitare, tanta vis est amoris ut ea quae cum amore diu cogitaverit Bisque curae glutino inhaeserit attrahat secum etiam cum ad se cogitandam quodam modo redit. Et quia illa corpora sunt quae foris per sensus carnis adamavit eorumque diuturna quadam familiaritate implicate est, nec secum potest introrsus tamquam in regi nem in corporeae naturae ipsa corpora inferre, imagines eorum conuoluit et rapit factas in semetipsa de semetipsa. Dat enim eis formandis quiddam substantiae suae; servat autem aliquid quo libere de specie talium imaginum iudicet, et hoc est magis mens, id est rationalis intellegentia quae servatur ut iudicet. Nam illas animae parses quae corporum similitudinibus informantur etiam cum bestiis nos communes habere sentimus.
7. Why therefore is it enjoined upon it, that it should know itself? I suppose, in order that, it may consider itself, and live according to its own nature; that is, seek to be regulated according to its own nature, viz., under Him to whom it ought to be subject, and above those things to which it is to be preferred; under Him by whom it ought to be ruled, above those things which it ought to rule. For it does many things through vicious desire, as though in forgetfulness of itself. For it sees some things intrinsically excellent, in that more excellent nature which is God: and whereas it ought to remain steadfast that it may enjoy them, it is turned away from Him, by wishing to appropriate those things to itself, and not to be like to Him by His gift, but to be what He is by its own, and it begins to move and slip gradually down into less and less, which it thinks to be more and more; for it is neither sufficient for itself, nor is anything at all sufficient for it, if it withdraw from Him who is alone sufficient: and so through want and distress it becomes too intent upon its own actions and upon the unquiet delights which it obtains through them: and thus, by the desire of acquiring knowledge from those things that are without, the nature of which it knows and loves, and which it feels can be lost unless held fast with anxious care, it loses its security, and thinks of itself so much the less, in proportion as it feels the more secure that it cannot lose itself. So, whereas it is one thing not to know oneself, and another not to think of oneself (for we do not say of the man that is skilled in much learning, that he is ignorant of grammar, when he is only not thinking of it, because he is thinking at the time of the art of medicine)—whereas, then, I say it is one thing not to know oneself, and another not to think of oneself, such is the strength of love, that the mind draws in with itself those things which it has long thought of with love, and has grown into them by the close adherence of diligent study, even when it returns in some way to think of itself. And because these things are corporeal which it loved externally through the carnal senses; and because it has become entangled with them by a kind of daily familiarity, and yet cannot carry those corporeal things themselves with itself internally as it were into the region of incorporeal nature; therefore it combines certain images of them, and thrusts them thus made from itself into itself. For it gives to the forming of them somewhat of its own substance, yet preserves the while something by which it may judge freely of the species of those images; and this something is more properly the mind, that is, the rational understanding, which is preserved that it may judge. For we see that we have those parts of the soul which are informed by the likenesses of corporeal things, in common also with beasts.
[10.6.8] Errat autem mens cum se istis imaginibus tanto amore coniungit ut etiam se esse aliquid huiusmodi existimet. Ita enim conformatur eis quodam modo non id exsistendo sed putando, non quo se imaginem putet sed omnino illud ipsum cuius imagmem secum habet. Viget quippe in ea iudicium discernendi corpus quod foris relinquit ab imagine quam de illo secum gerit nisi cum ita exprimuntur eaedem imagines tamquam foris sentiantur non intus cogitentur sicut dormientibus aut furentibus aut in aliqua extasi accidere solet.
8. But the mind errs, when it so lovingly and intimately connects itself with these images, as even to consider itself to be something of the same kind. For so it is conformed to them to some extent, not by being this, but by thinking it is so: not that it thinks itself to be an image, but outright that very thing itself of which it entertains the image. For there still lives in it the power of distinguishing the corporeal thing which it leaves without, from the image of that corporeal thing which it contains therefrom within itself: except when these images are so projected as if felt without and not thought within, as in the case of people who are asleep, or mad, or in a trance.
[10.7.9] Cum itaque se tale aliquid putat, corpus esse se putat. Et quia sibi bene conscia est principatus sui quo corpus regit, hinc factum est ut quidam quaererent quid corporis amplius valet in corpore, et hoc esse mentem vel omnino totam animam existimarent. Itaque alii sanguinem, alii cerebrum, alii cor (non sicut scriptura dicit: Confitebor tibi, domine, in toto corde meo et: Diliges dominum deum tuum ex toto corde tuo hoc enim abutendo vel transferendo vocabulo dicitur a corpore ad animum), sed ipsam omnino particulam corporis quam in visceribus dilaniatis videmus eam esse putaverunt. Alii ex minutissimis individuisque corpusculis quas atomos dicunt concurrentibus in se atque cohaerentibus eam confici crediderunt. Alii aerem, alii ignem substantiam eius esse dixerunt. Alii eam nullam esse substantiam quia nisi corpus nullam sub stantiam poterant cogit are et eam corpus esse non inveniebant, sed ipsam temperationem corporis nostri vel compagem primordiorum quibus ista caro tamquam connectitur esse opinati sunt. Eique omnes eam mortalem esse senserunt quia sive corpus esset sive aliqua compositio corporis non posset utique immortaliter permanere. Qui vero eius substantiam vitam quandam nequaquam corpoream, quandoquidem vitam omne vivum corpus animantem ac vivificantem esse repererunt, consequenter et immortalem quia vita carere vita non potest ut quisque potuit, probare conati sunt. Nam de quinto illo nescio quo corpore quod notissimis quattuor huius mundi elementis quidam coniungentes hinc animam esse dixerunt, hoc loco diu disserendum non puto; aut enim hoc vocant corpus quod nos cuius in loci spatio pars toto minor est, et in illis adnumerandi sunt qui mentem corpoream esse crediderunt; aut si vel omnem substantiam vel omnem mutabilem substantiam corpus appellant, cum sciant non omnem locorum spatiis aliqua longitudine et latitudine et altitudine contineri, non cum eis de vocabuli quaestione pugnandum est.
9. When, therefore, it thinks itself to be something of this kind, it thinks itself to be a corporeal thing; and since it is perfectly conscious of its own superiority, by which it rules the body, it has hence come to pass that the question has been raised what part of the body has the greater power in the body; and the opinion has been held that this is the mind, nay, that it is even the whole soul altogether. And some accordingly think it to be the blood, others the brain, others the heart; not as the Scripture says, I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; and, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart; for this word by misapplication or metaphor is transferred from the body to the soul; but they have simply thought it to be that small part itself of the body, which we see when the inward parts are rent asunder. Others, again, have believed the soul to be made up of very minute and individual corpustules, which they call atoms, meeting in themselves and cohering. Others have said that its substance is air, others fire. Others have been of opinion that it is no substance at all, since they could not think any substance unless it is body, and they did not find that the soul was body; but it was in their opinion the tempering together itself of our body, or the combining together of the elements, by which that flesh is as it were conjoined. And hence all of these have held the soul to be mortal; since, whether it were body, or some combination of body, certainly it could not in either case continue always without death. But they who have held its substance to be some kind of life the reverse of corporeal, since they have found it to be a life that animates and quickens every living body, have by consequence striven also, according as each was able, to prove it immortal, since life cannot be without life.For as to that fifth kind of body, I know not what, which some have added to the four well-known elements of the world, and have said that the soul was made of this, I do not think we need spend time in discussing it in this place. For either they mean by body what we mean by it, viz., that of which a part is less than the whole in extension of place, and they are to be reckoned among those who have believed the mind to be corporeal: or if they call either all substance, or all changeable substance, body, whereas they know that not all substance is contained in extension of place by any length and breadth and height, we need not contend with them about a question of words.
[10.7.10] In his omnibus sententiis quisquis videt mentis naturam et esse substantiam et non esse corpoream, id est non minore sui parte minus occupare loci spatium maiusque maiore, simul oportet videat eos qui opinantur esse corpoream non ob hoc errare quod mens desit eorum notitiae, sed quod adiungunt ea sine quibus nullam possunt cogitare naturam; sine phantasiis enim corporum quidquid iussi fuerint cogitare nihil omnino esse arbitrantur, ideoque non se tamquam sibi desit mens requirat. Quid enim tam cognitioni adest quam id quod menti adest, aut quid tam menti adest quam ipsa mens? Unde et ipsa quae appellatur inventio si verbi originem retractemus, quid aliud resonat nisi quia invenire est in id venire quod quaeritur? Propterea quae quasi ultro in mentem veniunt non usitate dicuntur inventa, quamvis cognita dici possint quia non in ea quaerendo tendebamus ut in ea veniremus, hoc est ea inveniremus. Quapropter sicut ea quae oculis aut ullo alio corporis sensu requiruntur ipsa mens quaerit (ipsa enim etiam sensum carnis intendit, tunc autem invenit cum in ea quae requiruntur idem sensus venit), sic alla quae non corporeo sensu internuntio sed per se ipsam nosse debet cum in ea venit, invenit aut in superiore substantia, id est in deo, aut in caeteris animae partibus sicut de ipsis imaginibus corporum cum iudicat; intus enim in anima eas invenit per corpus impresses.
10. Now, in the case of all these opinions, any one who sees that the nature of the mind is at once substance, and yet not corporeal—that is, that it does not occupy a less extension of place with a less part of itself, and a greater with a greater—must needs see at the same time that they who are of opinion that it is corporeal do not err from defect of knowledge concerning mind, but because they associate with it qualities without which they are not able to conceive any nature at all. For if you bid them conceive of existence that is without corporeal phantasms, they hold it merely nothing. And so the mind would not seek itself, as though wanting to itself. For what is so present to knowledge as that which is present to the mind? Or what is so present to the mind as the mind itself? And hence what is called invention, if we consider the origin of the word, what else does it mean, unless that to find out is to come into that which is sought? Those things accordingly which come into the mind as it were of themselves, are not usually said to be found out, although they may be said to be known; since we did not endeavor by seeking to come into them, that is to invent or find them out. And therefore, as the mind itself really seeks those things which are sought by the eyes or by any other sense of the body (for the mind directs even the carnal sense, and then finds out or invents, when that sense comes to the things which are sought); so, too, it finds out or invents other things which it ought to know, not with the medium of corporeal sense, but through itself, when it comes into them; and this, whether in the case of the higher substance that is in God, or of the other parts of the soul; just as it does when it judges of bodily images themselves, for it finds these within, in the soul, impressed through the body.
[10.8.11] Ergo se ipsam quemadmodum quaerat et inveniat, mirabilis quaestio est quo tendat ut quaerat aut quo veniat ut inveniat. Quid enim tam in mente quam mens est? Sed quia in his est quae cum amore cogitat, sensibilibus autem, id est corporalibus, cum amore assuefacta est, non valet sine imaginibus eorum esse in semetipsa. Hinc ei oboritur erroris dedecus dum rerum sensarum imagines secernere a se non potest ut se solam videat; cohaeserunt enim mirabiliter glutino amoris. Et haec est eis immunditia quondam dum se solam nititur cogitare hoc se putat esse sine quo se non potest cogitare. Cum igitur ei praecipitur ut se ipsam cognoscat, non se tamquam sibi detracta sit quaerat, sed id quod sibi addidit detrahat. Interior est enim ipsa non solum quam ista sensibilia quae manifeste foris sunt, sed etiam quam imagines eorum quae in parse quadam sunt animae quam habent et bestiae, quamvis intellegentia careant, quae mentis est propria. Cum ergo sit mens interior, quodam modo exit a semetipsa cum in haec quasi uestigia multarum intentionum exerit amoris affectum. Quae uestigia tamquam imprimuntur memoriae quando haec quae foris sunt corporalia sentiuntur ut etiam cum absunt ista, praesto sint tamen imagines eorum cogitantibus. Cognoscat ergo semetipsam, nec quasi absentem se quaerat, sed intentionem voluntatis qua per alla uagabatur statuat in se ipsa et se cogitet. Ita videbit quod numquam se non amaverit, numquam nescierit, sed aliud secum amando cum eo se confudit et concrevit quodam modo, atque ita dum sicut unum diversa complectitur, unum putavit esse quae diversa sunt.
11. It is then a wonderful question, in what manner the soul seeks and finds itself; at what it aims in order to seek, or whither it comes, that it may come into or find out. For what is so much in the mind as the mind itself? But because it is in those things which it thinks of with love, and is wont to be in sensible, that is, in corporeal things with love, it is unable to be in itself without the images of those corporeal things. And hence shameful error arises to block its way, while it cannot separate from itself the images of sensible things, so as to see itself alone. For they have marvellously cohered with it by the close adhesion of love. And herein consists its uncleanness; since, while it strives to think of itself alone, it fancies itself to be that, without which it cannot think of itself. When, therefore, it is bidden to become acquainted with itself, let it not seek itself as though it were withdrawn from itself; but let it withdraw that which it has added to itself. For itself lies more deeply within, not only than those sensible things, which are clearly without, but also than the images of them; which are indeed in some part of the soul, viz., that which beasts also have, although these want understanding, which is proper to the mind. As therefore the mind is within, it goes forth in some sort from itself, when it exerts the affection of love towards these, as it were, footprints of many acts of attention. And these footprints are, as it were, imprinted on the memory, at the time when the corporeal things which are without are perceived in such way, that even when those corporeal things are absent, yet the images of them are at hand to those who think of them. Therefore let the mind become acquainted with itself, and not seek itself as if it were absent; but fix upon itself the act of [voluntary] attention, by which it was wandering among other things, and let it think of itself. So it will see that at no time did it ever not love itself, at no time did it ever not know itself; but by loving another thing together with itself it has confounded itself with it, and in some sense has grown one with it. And so, while it embraces diverse things, as though they were one, it has come to think those things to be one which are diverse.
[10.9.12] Non itaque velut absentem se quaerat cernere, sed praesentem se cures discernere. Nec se quasi non norit cognoscat, sed ab eo quod alterum novit dinoscat. Ipsum enim quod audit: Cognosce te ipsam quomodo agere curabit si nescit aut quid sit cognosce aut quid sit te ipsam? Si autem utrumque novit, novit et se ipsam quia non ita dicitur menti: Cognosce te ipsam sicut dicitur: 'Cognosce cherubim et seraphim'; de absentibus enim illis credimus secundum quod caelestes quaedam potestates esse praedicantur. Neque sicut dicitur: 'Cognosce voluntatem illius hominis,' quae nobis nec ad sentiendum ullo modo nec ad intellegendum praesto est nisi corporalib us signis editis , et hoc ita ut magis credamus quam intellegamus. Neque ita ut dicitur homini: 'Vide faciem tuam,' quod nisi in speculo fieri non potest. Nam et ipsa nostra facies absens ab aspectu nostro est quia non ibi est quo ille dirigi potest. Sed cum dicitur menti: Cognosce te ipsam eo ictu quo intellegit quod dictum est te ipsam cognoscit se ipsam, nec ob aliud quam eo quod sibi praesens est. Si autem quod dictum est non intellegit, non utique facit. Hoc igitur ei praecipitur ut faciat quod cum praeceptum ipsum intellegit facit.
12. Let it not therefore seek to discern itself as though absent, but take pains to discern itself as present. Nor let it take knowledge of itself as if it did not know itself, but let it distinguish itself from that which it knows to be another. For how will it take pains to obey that very precept which is given it, Know yourself, if it knows not either what know means or what yourself means? But if it knows both, then it knows also itself. Since know yourself is not so said to the mind as is Know the cherubim and the seraphim; for they are absent, and we believe concerning them, and according to that belief they are declared to be certain celestial powers. Nor yet again as it is said, Know the will of that man: for this it is not within our reach to perceive at all, either by sense or understanding, unless by corporeal signs actually set forth; and this in such a way that we rather believe than understand. Nor again as it is said to a man, Behold your own face; which he can only do in a looking-glass. For even our own face itself is out of the reach of our own seeing it; because it is not there where our look can be directed. But when it is said to the mind, Know yourself; then it knows itself by that very act by which it understands the word yourself; and this for no other reason than that it is present to itself. But if it does not understand what is said, then certainly it does not do as it is bid to do. And therefore it is bidden to do that thing which it does do, when it understands the very precept that bids it.
[10.9.13] Non ergo adiungat aliud ad id quod se ipsam cognoscit cum audit ut se ipsam cognoscat. Certe enim novit sibi dici, sibi scilicet quae est et vivit et intellegit. Sed est et cadaver, vivit et pecus; intellegit autem nec cadaver nec pecus. Sic ergo se esse et vivere scit quomodo est et vivit intellegentia.
13. Let it not then add anything to that which it knows itself to be, when it is bidden to know itself. For it knows, at any rate, that this is said to itself; namely, to the self that is, and that lives, and that understands. But a dead body also is, and cattle live; but neither a dead body nor cattle understand. Therefore it so knows that it so is, and that it so lives, as an understanding is and lives.
[10.10.13] Cum ergo verbi gratia mens aerem se putat, aerem intellegere putat, se tamen intellegere scit; aerem autem se esse non scit sed putat. Secernat quod se putat, cernat quod scit; hoc ei remaneat unde ne illi quidem dubitaverunt qui aliud atque aliud corpus esse mentem putaverunt. Neque enim omnis mens aerem se esse existimat, sed aliae ignem, aliae cerebrum, aliaeque aliud corpus et aliud aliae sicut supra commemoravi, omnes tamen se intellegere noverunt et esse et vivere, sed intellegere ad quod intellegunt referunt, esse autem et vivere ad se ipsas. Et nulli est dubium nec quemquam intellegere qui non vivat, nec quemquam vivere qui non sit. Ergo consequenter et esse et vivere id quod intellegit, non sicuti est cadaver quod non vivit, nec sicut vivit anima quae non intellegit, sed proprio quodam eodemque praestantiore modo. Item velle se sciunt neque hoc posse quemquam qui non sit et qui non vivat pariter sciunt, itemque ipsam voluntatem referunt ad aliquid quod ea voluntate volunt. Meminisse etiam se sciunt simulque sciunt quod nemo meminisset nisi esset ac viveret, sed et ipsam memoriam referimus ad aliquid quod ea meminimus. Duobus igitur horum trium memoria et intellegentia, multarum rerum notitia atque scientia continetur; voluntas autem adest per quam fruamur eis vel utamur. Fruimur enim cognitis in quibus voluntas ipsis propter se ipsa delectata conquiescit; utimur vero eis quae ad aliud referimus quo fruendum est. Nec est alia vita hominum vitiosa atque culpabilis quam male utens et male fruens, de qua re non est nunc disserendi locus.
When, therefore, for example's sake, the mind thinks itself air, it thinks that air understands; it knows, however, that itself understands, but it does not know itself to be air, but only thinks so. Let it separate that which it thinks itself; let it discern that which it knows; let this remain to it, about which not even have they doubted who have thought the mind to be this corporeal thing or that. For certainly every mind does not consider itself to be air; but some think themselves fire, others the brain, and some one kind of corporeal thing, others another, as I have mentioned before; yet all know that they themselves understand, and are, and live; but they refer understanding to that which they understand, but to be, and to live, to themselves. And no one doubts, either that no one understands who does not live, or that no one lives of whom it is not true that he is; and that therefore by consequence that which understands both is and lives; not as a dead body is which does not live, nor as a soul lives which does not understand, but in some proper and more excellent manner. Further, they know that they will, and they equally know that no one can will who is not and who does not live; and they also refer that will itself to something which they will with that will. They know also that they remember; and they know at the same time that nobody could remember, unless he both was and lived; but we refer memory itself also to something, in that we remember those things. Therefore the knowledge and science of many things are contained in two of these three, memory and understanding; but will must be present, that we may enjoy or use them. For we enjoy things known, in which things themselves the will finds delight for their own sake, and so reposes; but we use those things, which we refer to some other thing which we are to enjoy. Neither is the life of man vicious and culpable in any other way, than as wrongly using and wrongly enjoying. But it is no place here to discuss this.
[10.10.14] Sed quoniam de natura mentis agitur, removeamus a consideratione nostra omnes notitias quae capiuntur extrinsecus per sensus corporis, et ea quae posuimus omnes mentes de se ipsis nosse certasque esse diligentius attendamus. Utrum enim aeris sit vis vivendi, reminiscendi, intellegendi, volendi, cogitandi, sciendi, iudicandi; an ignis, an cerebri, an sanguinis, an atomorum, an praeter usitata quattuor elementa quinti nescio cuius corporis, an ipsius carnis nostrae compago vel temperamentum haec efficere valeat dubitaverunt homines, et alius hoc, alius illud affirmare conatus est. Vivere se tamen et meminisse et intellegere et velle et cogitare et scire et iudicare quis dubitet? Quandoquidem etiam si dubitat, vivit; si dubitat, unde dubitet meminit; si dubitat, dubitare se intellegit; si dubitat, certus esse vult; si dubitat, cogitat; si dubitat, scit se nescire; si dubitat, iudicat non se temere consentire oportere. Quisquis igitur alicunde dubitat de his omnibus dubitare non debet quae si non essent, de ulla re dubitare non posset.
14. But since we treat of the nature of the mind, let us remove from our consideration all knowledge which is received from without, through the senses of the body; and attend more carefully to the position which we have laid down, that all minds know and are certain concerning themselves. For men certainly have doubted whether the power of living, of remembering, of understanding, of willing, of thinking, of knowing, of judging, be of air, or of fire, or of the brain, or of the blood, or of atoms, or besides the usual four elements of a fifth kind of body, I know not what; or,whether the combining or tempering together of this our flesh itself has power to accomplish these things. And one has attempted to establish this, and another to establish that. Yet who ever doubts that he himself lives, and remembers, and understands, and wills, and thinks, and knows, and judges? Seeing that even if he doubts, he lives; if he doubts, he remembers why he doubts; if he doubts, he understands that he doubts; if he doubts, he wishes to be certain; if he doubts, he thinks; if he doubts, he knows that he does not know; if he doubts, he judges that he ought not to assent rashly. Whosoever therefore doubts about anything else, ought not to doubt of all these things; which if they were not, he would not be able to doubt of anything.
[10.10.15] Haec omnia qui vel corpus vel compositionem seu temperationem corporis esse mentem putant in subiecto esse volunt videri ut substantia sit aer vel ignis sive aliud aliquod corpus quod mentem putant, intellegentia vero ita insit huic corpori sicut qualitas eius ut illud subiectum sit, haec in subiecto, subiectum scilicet mens quam corpus esse arbitrantur, in subiecto autem intellegentia sive quid aliud eorum quae certa nobis esse commemoravimus. Iuxta opinantur etiam illi qui mentem ipsam negant esse corpus sed compaginem aut temperationem corporis. Hoc enim interest quod illi mentem ipsam dicunt esse substantiam in quo subiecto sit intellegentia; isti autem ipsam mentem in subiecto esse dicunt, corpore scilicet cuius compositio vel temperatio est. Unde consequenter etiam intellegentiam quid aliud quam in eodem subiecto corpore existimant?
15. They who think the mind to be either a body or the combination or tempering of the body, will have all these things to seem to be in a subject, so that the substance is air, or fire, or some other corporeal thing, which they think to be the mind; but that the understanding (intelligentia) is in this corporeal thing as its quality, so that this corporeal thing is the subject, but the understanding is in the subject: viz. that the mind is the subject, which they judge to be a corporeal thing, but the understanding [intelligence], or any other of those things which we have mentioned as certain to us, is in that subject. They also hold nearly the same opinion who deny the mind itself to be body, but think it to be the combination or tempering together of the body; for there is this difference, that the former say that the mind itself is the substance, in which the understanding [intelligence] is, as in a subject; but the latter say that the mind itself is in a subject, viz. in the body, of which it is the combination or tempering together. And hence, by consequence, what else can they think, except that the understanding also is in the same body as in a subject?
[10.10.16] Qui omnes non advertunt mentem nosse se etiam cum quaerit se sicut iam ostendimus. Nullo modo autem recte dicitur sciri aliqua res dum eius ignoratur substantia. Quapropter dum se mens novit substantiam suam novit, et cum de se certa est de substantia sua certa est. Certa est autem de se sicut conuincunt ea quae supra dicta sunt. Nec omnino certa est utrum aer an ignis sit an aliquod corpus vel aliquid corporis. Non est igitur aliquid eorum. Totumque illud quod se iubetur ut noverit, ad hoc pertinet ut certa sit non se esse aliquid eorum de quibus incerta est, idque solum esse se certa sit quod solum esse se certa est. Sic enim cogitat ignem ut aerem et quidquid ahud corporis cogitat, neque ullo modo fieri posset ut ita cogitaret id quod ipsa est quemadmodum cogitat id quod ipsa non est. Per phantasiam quippe imaginariam cogitat haec omnia, sive ignem sive aerem sive illud vel illud corpus partemue ullam seu compaginem temperationemque corporis, nec utique ista omnia sed aliquid horum esse dicitur. Si quid autem horum esset, aliter id quam caetera cogitaret non scilicet per imaginale figmentum sicut cogitantur absentia quae sensu corporis tacta sunt, sive omnino ipsa sive eiusdem generis aliqua, sed quadam interiore non simulata sed vera praesentia (non enim quidquam illi est se ipsa praesentius), sicut cogitat vivere se et meminisse et intellegere et velle se. Novit enim haec in se, nec imaginatur quasi extra se illa sensu tetigerit sicut corporalia quaeque tanguntur. Ex quorum cogitationibus si nihil sibi affingat ut tale aliquid esse se putet, quidquid ei de se remanet hoc solum ipsa est.
16. And all these do not perceive that the mind knows itself, even when it seeks for itself, as we have already shown. But nothing is at all rightly said to be known while its substance is not known. And therefore, when the mind knows itself, it knows its own substance; and when it is certain about itself, it as certain about its own substance. But it is certain about itself, as those things which are said above prove convincingly; although it is not at all certain whether itself is air, or fire, or some body, or some function of body. Therefore it is not any of these. And to that whole which is bidden to know itself, belongs this, that it is certain that it is not any of those things of which it is uncertain, and is certain that it is that only, which only it is certain that it is. For it thinks in this way of fire, or air, and whatever else of the body it thinks of. Neither can it in any way be brought to pass that it should so think that which itself is, as it thinks that which itself is not. Since it thinks all these things through an imaginary phantasy, whether fire, or air, or this or that body, or that part or combination and tempering together of the body: nor assuredly is it said to be all those things, but some one of them. But if it were any one of them, it would think this one in a different manner from the rest viz. not through an imaginary phantasy, as absent things are thought, which either themselves or some of like kind have been touched by the bodily sense; but by some inward, not feigned, but true presence (for nothing is more present to it than itself); just as it thinks that itself lives, and remembers, and understands, and wills. For it knows these things in itself, and does not imagine them as though it had touched them by the sense outside itself, as corporeal things are touched. And if it attaches nothing to itself from the thought of these things, so as to think itself to be something of the kind, then whatsoever remains to it from itself that alone is itself.
[10.11.17] Remotis igitur paulisper caeteris quorum mens de se ipsa certa est, tria haec potissimum considerata tractemus memoriam, intellegentiam, voluntatem. In his enim tribus inspici solent etiam ingenia paruulorum cuiusmodi praeferant indolem. Quanto quippe tenacius et facilius puer meminit quantoque acrius intellegit et studet ardentius, tanto est laudabilioris ingenii. Cum vero de cuiusque doctrina quaeritur, non quanta firmitate ac facilitate meminerit vel quanto acumine intellegat, sed quid meminerit et quid intellegat quaeritur. Et quia non tantum quam doctus sit consideratur laudabilis animus sed etiam quam bonus, non tantum quid meminerit et quid intellegat, verum etiam quid velit attenditur; non quanta flagrantia velit, sed quid velit prius, deinde quantum velit. Tunc enim laudandus est animus uehementer amans cum id quod amat uehementer amandum est. Cum ergo dicuntur haec tria ingenium, doctrina, usus, primum horum consideratur in illis tribus quid possit quisque memoria, intellegentia, voluntate. Secundum eorum consideratur quid habeat quisque in memoria et intellegentia, quo studiosa voluntate peruenerit. Iam vero usus tertius in voluntate est pertractante illa quae memoria et intellegentia continentur, sive ad aliquid ea referat sive eorum fine delectata conquiescat. Uti est enim assumere aliquid in facultatem voluntatis; frui est autem uti cum gaudio non adhuc spei sed iam rei. Proinde omnis qui fruitur utitur, assumit enim aliquid in facultatem voluntatis cum fine delectationis. Non autem omnis qui utitur fruitur si id quod in facultatem voluntatis assumit non propter illud ipsum sed propter aliud appetivit.
17. Putting aside, then, for a little while all other things, of which the mind is certain concerning itself, let us especially consider and discuss these three— memory, understanding, will. For we may commonly discern in these three the character of the abilities of the young also; since the more tenaciously and easily a boy remembers, and the more acutely he understands, and the more ardently he studies, the more praiseworthy is he in point of ability. But when the question is about any one's learning, then we ask not how solidly and easily he remembers, or how shrewdly he understands; but what it is that he remembers, and what it is that he understands. And because the mind is regarded as praiseworthy, not only as being learned, but also as being good, one gives heed not only to what he remembers and what he understands, but also to what he wills (velit); not how ardently he wills, but first what it is he wills, and then how greatly he wills it. For the mind that loves eagerly is then to be praised, when it loves that which ought to be loved eagerly. Since, then, we speak of these three— ability, knowledge, use— the first of these is to be considered under the three heads, of what a man can do in memory, and understanding, and will. The second of them is to be considered in regard to that which any one has in his memory and in his understanding, which he has attained by a studious will. But the third, viz. use, lies in the will, which handles those things that are contained in the memory and understanding, whether it refer them to anything further, or rest satisfied with them as an end. For to use, is to take up something into the power of the will; and to enjoy, is to use with joy, not any longer of hope, but of the actual thing. Accordingly, every one who enjoys, uses; for he takes up something into the power of the will, wherein he also is satisfied as with an end. But not every one who uses, enjoys, if he has sought after that, which he takes up into the power of the will, not on account of the thing itself, but on account of something else.
[10.11.18] Haec igitur tria, memoria, intellegentia, voluntas, quoniam non sunt tres vitae sed una vita, nec tres mentes sed una mens, consequenter utique nec tres substantiae sunt sed una substantia. Memoria quippe quod vita et mens et substantia dicitur ad se ipsam dicitur; quod vero memoria dicitur ad aliquid relative dicitur. Hoc de intellegentia quoque et de voluntate dixerim, et intellegentia quippe et voluntas ad aliquid dicitur. Vita est autem unaquaeque ad se ipsam et mens et essentia. Quocirca tria haec eo sunt unum quo una vita, una mens, una essentia; et quidquid aliud ad se ipsa singula dicuntur etiam simul, non pluraliter sed singulariter dicuntur. Eo vero tria quo ad se invicem referuntur. Quae si aequalia non essent non solum singula singulis sed etiam omnibus singula, non utique se invicem caperent. Neque enim tantum a singulis singula, verum etiam a singulis omnia capiuntur. Memini enim me habere memoriam et intellegentiam et voluntatem, et intellego me intellegere et velle atque meminisse, et volo me velle et meminisse et intellegere, totamque meam memoriam et intellegentiam et voluntatem simul memini. Quod enim memoriae meae non memini non est in memoria mea. Nihil autem tam in memoria quam ipsa memoria est. Totam igitur memini. Item quidquid intellego intellegere me scio, et scio me velle quidquid volo; quidquid autem scio memini. Totam igitur intellegentiam totamque voluntatem meam memini. Similiter cum haec tria intellego tota simul intellego. Neque enim quidquam intellegibilium non intellego nisi quod ignoro. Quod autem ignoro nec memini nec volo. Quidquid itaque intellegibilium non intellego consequenter etiam nec memini nec volo. Quidquid ergo intellegibilum memini et volo consequenter intellego. Voluntas etiam mea totam intellegentiam totamque memoriam meam capit dum toto utor quod intellego et memini. Quapropter quando invicem a singulis et tota et omnia capiuntur, aequalia sunt tota singula totis singulis et tota singula simul omnibus totis, et haec tria unum, una vita, una mens, una essentia.
18. Since, then, these three, memory, understanding, will, are not three lives, but one life; nor three minds, but one mind; it follows certainly that neither are they three substances, but one substance. Since memory, which is called life, and mind, and substance, is so called in respect to itself; but it is called memory, relatively to something. And I should say the same also of understanding and of will, since they are called understanding and will relatively to something; but each in respect to itself is life, and mind, and essence. And hence these three are one, in that they are one life, one mind, one essence; and whatever else they are severally called in respect to themselves, they are called also together, not plurally, but in the singular number. But they are three, in that wherein they are mutually referred to each other; and if they were not equal, and this not only each to each, but also each to all, they certainly could not mutually contain each other; for not only is each contained by each, but also all by each. For I remember that I have memory and understanding, and will; and I understand that I understand, and will, and remember; and I will that I will, and remember, and understand; and I remember together my whole memory, and understanding, and will. For that of my memory which I do not remember, is not in my memory; and nothing is so much in the memory as memory itself. Therefore I remember the whole memory. Also, whatever I understand I know that I understand, and I know that I will whatever I will; but whatever I know I remember. Therefore I remember the whole of my understanding, and the whole of my will. Likewise, when I understand these three things, I understand them together as whole. For there is none of things intelligible which I do not understand, except what I do not know; but what I do not know, I neither remember, nor will. Therefore, whatever of things intelligible I do not understand, it follows also that I neither remember nor will. And whatever of things intelligible I remember and will, it follows that I understand. My will also embraces my whole understanding and my whole memory while I use the whole that I understand and remember. And, therefore, while all are mutually comprehended by each, and as wholes, each as a whole is equal to each as a whole, and each as a whole at the same time to all as wholes; and these three are one, one life, one mind, one essence.
[10.12.19] Iamne igitur ascendendum est qualibuscumque intentionis viribus ad illam summam et altissimam essentiam cuius impar imago est humana mens sed tamen imago? An adhuc eadem tria distinctius declaranda sunt in anima per illa quae extrinsecus sensu corporis capimus ubi temporaliter imprimitur rerum corporearum notitia? Mentem quippe ipsam in memoria et intellegentia et voluntate suimetipsius talem reperiebamus ut quoniam semper se nosse semperque se ipsam velle comprehendebatur, simul etiam semper sui meminisse semperque se ipsam intellegere et amare comprehenderetur, quamvis non semper se cogitare discretam ab eis quae non sunt quod ipsa est. Ac per hoc difficile in ea dinoscitur memoria sui et intelligentia sui. Quasi enim non sint haec duo sed unum duobus vocabulis appelletur, sic apparet in ea re ubi valde ista coniuncta sunt et aliud alio nullo praeceditur tempore; amorque ipse non ita sentitur esse cum eum non prodit indigentia quoniam semper praesto est quod amatur. Quapropter etiam tardioribus dilucescere haec possunt dum ea tractantur quae ad animum tempore accedunt et quae illi temporaliter accidunt cum meminit quod antea non meminerat et cum videt quod antea non videbat et cum amat quod antea non amabat. Sed aliud haec tractatio iam poscit exordium propter huius libelli modum.
19. Are we, then, now to go upward, with whatever strength of purpose we may, to that chiefest and highest essence, of which the human mind is an inadequate image, yet an image? Or are these same three things to be yet more distinctly made plain in the soul, by means of those things which we receive from without, through the bodily sense, wherein the knowledge of corporeal things is impressed upon us in time? Since we found the mind itself to be such in its own memory, and understanding, and will, that since it was understood always to know and always to will itself, it was understood also at the same time always to remember itself, always to understand and love itself, although not always to think of itself as separate from those things which are not itself; and hence its memory of itself, and understanding of itself, are with difficult discerned in it. For in this case, where these two things are very closely conjoined, and one is not preceded by the other by any time at all, it looks as if they were not two things, but one called by two names; and love itself is not so plainly felt to exist when the sense of need does not disclose it, since what is loved is always at hand. And hence these things may be more lucidly set forth, even to men of duller minds, if such topics are treated of as are brought within reach of the mind in time, and happen to it in time; while it remembers what it did not remember before, and sees what it did not see before, and loves what it did not love before. But this discussion demands now another beginning, by reason of the measure of the present book.

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