4

The operation of the power of choice is found in deliberation, judgment,

and desire. Deliberation is found in inquiring what is better, this or

that. But the better has no meaning except by its proximity to the best.

But such proximity is measured by degrees of likeness. No one, therefore,

can know whether this is better than that unless he knows that this is

closer to the best. But no one knows that one of two things is more like

another unless he knows the other. For I do not know that this man is like

Peter unless I know or am acquainted with Peter. Therefore the idea of the

good must be involved in every deliberation about the highest good.

Certain judgment of the objects of deliberation comes about through some

law. But none can judge with certainty through law unless he be certain

that that law is right and that he ought not to judge it But the mind

judges itself. Since, then, it cannot judge the law it employs in judgment,

that law is higher than our minds, and through this higher law one makes

judgments according to the degree with which it is impressed upon it. But

there is nothing higher than the human mind except Him Who made it.

Therefore our deliberative faculty in judging reaches upward to divine laws

if it solves its problems completely.

Now desire is of that which especially moves one. But that especially moves

one which is especially loved. But happiness is loved above all. But

happiness does not come about except through the best and ultimate end.

Human desire, therefore, seeks nothing unless it be the highest good or

something which leads to it or something which has some resemblance to it.

So great is the force of the highest good that nothing can be loved except

through desire for it by a creature which errs and is deceived when it

takes truth's image and likeness for the truth.

See then how close the soul is to God and how memory in its operations

leads to eternity, intelligence to truth, the power of choice to the

highest goodness.