24. When judged to represent the real essence.
(4) The mistake is yet greater, when I judge that this complex idea
contains in it the real essence of any body existing; when at least it contains but some few of those properties
which flow from its real essence and constitution. I say only some few of those properties; for those properties
consisting mostly in the active and passive powers it has in reference to other things, all that are vulgarly known
of any one body, of which the complex idea of that kind of things is usually made, are but a very few, in
comparison of what a man that has several ways tried and examined it knows of that one sort of things; and all
that the most expert man knows are but a few, in comparison of what are really in that body, and depend on its
internal or essential constitution. The essence of a triangle lies in a very little compass, consists in a very few
ideas: three lines including a space make up that essence: but the properties that flow from this essence are more
than can be easily known or enumerated. So I imagine it is in substances; their real essences lie in a little compass,
though the properties flowing from that internal constitution are endless.
