Quote #33

By God, I mean a being absolutely infinite - that is, a substance consisting in infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality. Explanation - I say absolutely infinite, not infinite after its kind: for, of a thing infinite only after its kind, infinite attributes may be denied; but that which is absolutely infinite, contains in its essence whatever expresses reality, and involves no negation.

More from Baruch Spinoza

  1. A body is called finite because we always conceive another greater body. So, also, a thought is limited by another thought, but a body is n…
  2. That thing is called free, which exists solely by the necessity of its own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone. O…
  3. By that which is self-caused, I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as exist…
  4. By eternity, I mean existence itself, in so far as it is conceived necessarily to follow solely from the definition of that which is eterna…
  5. We can conceive of various kinds of democracy. But my intention is not to treat of every kind, but of that only, 'wherein all, without exce…
  6. The more reality or being a thing has, the greater the number of its attributes.
  7. I pass, at length, to the third and perfectly absolute dominion, which we call democracy.
  8. God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, necessarily exists.

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