5

See then purest Being itself, if you can, and you will understand that

it cannot be thought of as derivative from another. And thus necessarily

that must be thought of as absolutely primal which can be derivative

neither from nothing nor from anything. For what exists through itself if

Being does not exist through itself and of itself? You will understand

that, lacking Non-Being in every respect and therefore having no beginning

nor end, it is eternal. You will understand also that it contains nothing

in itself save Being itself, for it is in no way composite, but is most

simple. You will understand that it has no potentialities within it, since

every possible has in some way something of Non-Being, but Being is the

highest actuality. You will understand that it has no defect, for it is

most perfect. Finally, you will understand that it has no diversity, for it

is One in the highest degree.

Being, therefore, which is pure Being and most simply Being and absolutely

Being, is Being primary, eternal, most simple, most actual, most perfect,

and one to the highest degree.