203. Since the interior things of man, which belong to his will and understanding, are like the heavens as to degrees (for man, as to the interiors of his mind, is a heaven in least form), so also their perfections are similar. But these perfections are not apparent to any man while he is living in the world, for he is then in the lowest degree, and from the lowest degree the higher degrees cannot be known. But after death they are known. For then man comes into that degree which corresponds to his love and wisdom, for he then becomes an angel, and thinks and speaks things ineffable to his natural man. For there is then an elevation of all things of his mind, not in a single, but in a threefold ratio. Degrees of height are in this threefold ratio, but degrees of breadth are in single ratio. But into those degrees none ascend and are elevated, except those who, in the world, have been in truths, and have applied them to life.