The Remaining Works of Benedictus de Spinoza

In this matter, too, it seems that not Philosophy should be blamed, but Philosophers; let me be allowed to profess this freely, however well aware I am of my own insignificance in philosophizing. Nor do I foresee that those who are less friends to themselves than they are to philosophy itself could take this indignantly.

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

They were published only once under the title already mentioned. The same format includes an image of the Philosopher engraved in copper, which is therefore not rarely found prefixed to copies of this edition. Often, however, it is missing, nor is it indicated in the preface that it belongs to it. Included within a double circle on a square base, it has the name: BENEDICTUS DE SPINOZA, with three distichs, worthy of neither a Poet nor a Philosopher:

He to whom Nature, God, and the order of things was known, in this state Spinoza was to be seen. Men expressed the face, but the hands of Zeuxis could not paint the mind. It lives in his writings; there he treats sublime things. Whoever you are who wishes to know him, read his writings.