The Remaining Works of Benedict de Spinoza

This rather seems to happen only then, if those who use the intellect theoretically hold the law of the intellect, or the formal law of thinking, to be the sole law, also constituting the existence indicated by thought. In this matter, too, may I be permitted to profess freely—however much I am conscious of my own feebleness in philosophizing—that it is not Philosophy that seems to be blamed, but the Philosophers. And I do not foresee that those who are less friends to themselves than to philosophy itself can take this indignantly.

Regarding the literary history of the writings of Spinoza which are presented in this volume, far fewer things occur to be noted than for the former part.

They were edited only once under the title already mentioned. In the same form exists the image of the Philosopher engraved in copper, which is therefore not rarely found prefixed to copies of this edition. Often, however, it is absent, nor is it signified in the preface that it belongs to it. Enclosed in a double circle on a square base, it has the name: BENEDICTVS DE SPINOZA, with three couplets, worthy neither of a Poet nor of a Philosopher:

original: "Cui Natura, Deus, rerum cui cognitus ordo / Hoc Spinosa statu conspiciendus erat. / Expressere Viri faciem, sed pingere mentem / Zeuxidis artifices non valuere manus. / Illa viget scriptis: illic sublimia tractat. / Hunc quicunque cupis noscere scripta lege."

To whom Nature, God, and the order of things was known,
    In this state, Spinoza was to be beheld.
Men expressed the face, but to paint the mind,
    The artistic hands of Zeuxis an ancient Greek painter renowned for realism were not strong enough.
That [the mind] flourishes in his writings: there he treats of the sublime.
    Whoever wishes to know him, read his writings.