By an end, for the sake of which we do something, I mean a desire.
VIII.

By virtue (virtus) and power I mean the same thing; that is (III.

vii), virtue, in so far as it is referred to man, is a man's nature or essence, in so far as it has the power of effecting what can only be understood by the laws of that nature.
AXIOM.
There is no individual thing in nature, than which there is not another more powerful and strong.

Whatsoever thing be given, there is something stronger whereby it can be destroyed.
PROPOSITIONS.
PROP.I.No positive quality possessed by a false idea is removed by the presence of what is true, in virtue of its being true.
Proof .-- Falsity consists solely in the privation of knowledge which inadequate ideas involve (II.

xxxv.), nor have they any positive quality on account of which they are called false (II.
xxxiii.); contrariwise, in so far as they are referred to God, they are true (II.