Book 4 — Concerning PRODUCING CAUSES, and THINGS PRODUCED.
Thomas Taylor translation
PROPOSITION VII.
Every thing productive of another, is more excellent than the nature of the thing produced.
For it is either more excellent, or worse, or equal. Let it be in the first place, equal.
That which is produced from this therefore, will itself also, either possess a power productive of some other, or it will be entirely barren. But if it be barren, it will on this account be worse than its producing cause: and because of its inefficacy, it will be unequal to that which is prolific, and possesses a productive power. But if it be productive of other natures, it will either produce that which is equal to itself (and this will be the case in all things, and all beings will be equal to each other, and nothing will be more excellent than another, since the productive nature always constitutes the thing produced equal to itself), or that which is unequal. But in this case, it will not be equal to its producing cause: for it is the property of equal powers to fabricate equal effects. But the productions of these are unequal to each other, since on this hypothesis the producing cause, is equal to that which is prior to itself, but that which is posterior is unequal to it. It is requisite, therefore, that the thing produced should not be equal to its producing cause.
But neither can the producing cause be over worse than the thing produced. For if the producing cause, confers essence on the thing produced, it bestows power also, according to essence. And if it is productive of all the power which that posterior to itself possesses, it can also make itself such as its production. But if it can do this, it will also make itself more powerful: for impotence cannot hinder, since a fabricative power is present, nor a defect of will: for all things, naturally desire good. Hence if it can form any thing else more prefect, it will also perfect itself, before it perfects that which is posterior to itself. The thing produced, therefore, is neither equal to, no more excellent than its producing cause: and hence the producing cause is entirely more excellent than the nature of the thing produced.