On the Improvement of the Understanding | Page 5

me, they became more
frequent and more lasting; especially after I had recognized that the
acquisition of wealth, sensual pleasure, or fame, is only a hindrance, so
long as they are sought as ends not as means; if they be sought as
means, they will be under restraint, and, far from being hindrances, will
further not a little the end for which they are sought, as I will show in
due time.
[12] (1) I will here only briefly state what I mean by true good, and also
what is the nature of the highest good. (2) In order that this may be
rightly understood, we must bear in mind that the terms good and evil

are only applied relatively, so that the same thing may be called both
good and bad according to the relations in view, in the same way as it
may be called perfect or imperfect. (3) Nothing regarded in its own
nature can be called perfect or imperfect; especially when we are aware
that all things which come to pass, come to pass according to the
eternal order and fixed laws of nature.
[13] (1) However, human weakness cannot attain to this order in its
own thoughts, but meanwhile man conceives a human character much
more stable than his own, and sees that there is no reason why he
should not himself acquire such a character. (2) Thus he is led to seek
for means which will bring him to this pitch of perfection, and calls
everything which will serve as such means a true good. (13:3) The
chief good is that he should arrive, together with other individuals if
possible, at the possession of the aforesaid character. (4) What that
character is we shall show in due time, namely, that it is the knowledge
of the union existing being the mind and the whole of nature. [c]
[14] (1) This, then, is the end for which I strive, to attain to such a
character myself, and to endeavor that many should attain to it with me.
(2) In other words, it is part of my happiness to lend a helping hand,
that many others may understand even as I do, so that their
understanding and desire may entirely agree with my own. (3) In order
to bring this about, it is necessary to understand as much of nature as
will enable us to attain to the aforesaid character, and also to form a
social order such as is most conducive to the attainment of this
character by the greatest number with the least difficulty and danger.
[15] (1) We must seek the assistance of Moral Philosophy [d] and the
Theory of Education; further, as health is no insignificant means for
attaining our end, we must also include the whole science of Medicine,
and, as many difficult things are by contrivance rendered easy, and we
can in this way gain much time and convenience, the science of
Mechanics must in no way be despised.
[16] (1) But before all things, a means must be devised for improving
the understanding and purifying it, as far as may be at the outset, so that
it may apprehend things without error, and in the best possible way. (2)

Thus it is apparent to everyone that I wish to direct all science to one
end [e] and aim, so that we may attain to the supreme human perfection
which we have named; and, therefore, whatsoever in the sciences does
not serve to promote our object will have to be rejected as useless. (3)
To sum up the matter in a word, all our actions and thoughts must be
directed to this one end.
[17] (1) Yet, as it is necessary that while we are endeavoring to attain
our purpose, and bring the understanding into the right path we should
carry on our life, we are compelled first of all to lay down certain rules
of life as provisionally good, to wit the following:- I. (2) To speak in a
manner intelligible to the multitude, and to comply with every general
custom that does not hinder the attainment of our purpose. (3) For we
can gain from the multitude no small advantages, provided that we
strive to accommodate ourselves to its understanding as far as possible:
moreover, we shall in this way gain a friendly audience for the
reception of the truth. II. (17:4) To indulge ourselves with pleasures
only in so far as they are necessary for preserving health. III. (5) Lastly,
to endeavor to obtain only sufficient money or other commodities to
enable us to preserve our life and health, and to follow such general
customs as are consistent with our purpose.
[18] (1) Having laid down these preliminary rules, I will betake myself
to the first and most important