But for something to be described neither in terms of increase and decrease nor in terms of their absence, while existing and having no magnitude, is inconceivable.

A further clarification is that we must distinguish between saying, “This is not described as increasing or decreasing,” and saying, “It is not described as neither increasing nor decreasing.” The former can be said only of something that has magnitude and can conceivably increase or decrease. As for what has no magnitude, increase and decrease cannot be conceived of in it so that they might then be denied of it.

This is clarified by the fact that judging a thing presupposes conceiving it. Just as it cannot be negated until it is conceived, so, when one says, “This admits of increase and decrease,” or “It does not admit of them,” or “This increases and decreases,” or “It neither increases nor decreases,” affirmation or negation presupposes conceiving increase and decrease in it. Thus, neither these attributes nor its capacity to admit of them can be denied except on the understanding that this description can conceivably apply to its reality, whether negatively or affirmatively. And for its reality to be such that the description cannot conceivably apply to it, whether affirmatively