De docta ignorantia

Further, the truth of trinity, which is trinity, requires the threefold to be one, because it is called three-one. But this does not fall into concept except in the manner in which distinct correlation unites and order distinguishes. Hence just as when we make a finite triangle, first there is one angle, second another, third a third from both, and those angles have correlation to one another, so that from them there is one triangle; so indeed also in the infinite infinitely. Yet it must be conceived thus, that such priority be conceived in eternity that posteriority does not contradict it; otherwise priority and posteriority could not fall in the infinite and eternal. Hence the father is not prior to the son and the son is not posterior, but the father is prior in such a way that the son is not posterior. So the father is the first person in such a way that the son is not after this second; but the father is first without priority, so the son second without posteriority, and the holy spirit likewise third. But since this has been said above more amply, let it suffice. Yet you may note concerning this ever-blessed trinity that the maximum itself is threefold and not fourfold, or fivefold, and beyond. And this is certainly worthy of note; for this repels the simplicity and perfection of the maximum; for every polygonal figure has the triangular as its most simple element, and it is the smallest polygonal figure, than which a smaller cannot be. But it has been proved that the minimum simply coincides with the maximum. Just as, therefore, unity stands in numbers, so the triangle in polygonal figures. Just as, therefore, every number is resolved into unity, so polygons into the triangle; the greatest triangle, therefore, with which the minimum coincides, enfolds all polygonal figures. For just as maximal unity stands to every number, so the greatest triangle to every polygon. But the quadrangular figure is not smallest, as is evident, because the triangular is smaller than it. Therefore the quadrangular, which cannot be without composition, since it is greater than the minimum, can in no way befit the most simple maximum, which can coincide with the minimum alone. Indeed it implies contradiction to be maximum and to be quadrangular; for it could not be the adequate measure of triangular things, because it would always exceed. How then would it be maximum, which would not be the measure of all? Indeed how would it be maximum, which would be from another and composite and consequently finite? And now it is evident why first from the potency of the simple line there arises the simple triangle, as to polygons, then the simple circle, then the simple sphere, and one does not arrive at others than these elemental figures, mutually infinite, improportional, enfolding all figures within themselves. Hence, just as if we wished to conceive the measures of all measurable quantities, first for length it would be necessary to have the infinite line as maximum with which the minimum would coincide, then in like manner for rectilinear breadth the greatest triangle, and for the breadth of the circle the greatest circle, and for depth the greatest sphere, and with others than these four all measurables could not be attained, because all these measures would necessarily be infinite and greatest, with which the minimum would coincide, and since there cannot be several maxima, hence we say the single maximum itself, which must be the measure of all quantities, is those things without which it could not be the greatest measure — although in itself considered without respect to measurables, it is none of these, nor can be truly said, but is above them through infinity and improportionally. So the maximum simply, since it is the measure of all things, we say is those things itself without which we do not understand it can be the meter of all. Hence the maximum, although it is above all trinity through infinity, we call threefold, because otherwise we would not understand it to be the simple cause, meter and measure of things whose unity of being is trinity, as in figures triangular unity consists in trinity of angles — although in truth both our name and our concept of trinity, with respect removed, in no way befit the maximum, but fall short through infinity of that greatest and incomprehensible truth. We have therefore the greatest triangle as the most simple measure of all things subsisting threefoldly, as are operations, actions subsisting threefoldly in potency, object, act; likewise visions, intellections, volitions, likenesses, unlikenesses, beauties, proportions, correlations, natural appetites and all other things, whose unity of being consists in plurality, as principally the being and operation of nature consisting in the correlation of agent, patient, and what results commonly from them.