then it is said how do you object to the philosopher who said that this is not an increase in honor? for knowledge is only needed by others in order to benefit from it in perfection for it is in itself deficient and man is honored by rational things either to see his benefit in the consequences in this world and the next or to perfect his dark and deficient self and so is the case with all creatures. as for the self of god it does not need perfection rather if he were granted knowledge by which he could perfect himself then his self would be deficient in terms of his self.
ثم يقال بم تنكر على من قال من الفلاسفة إن ذلك ليس بزيادة شرف؟ فإن العلم إنما احتاج إليه غيره ليستفيد به كمالا فإنه في ذاته قاصر والإنسان شرف بالمعقولات إما ليطلع على مصلحته في العواقب في الدنيا والآخرة وإما لتكمل ذاته المظلمة الناقصة، وكذى سائر المخلوقات. وأما ذات الله فمستغنية عن التكميل، بل لو قدر له علم يكمل به لكان ذاته من حيث ذاته ناقصا.