The Collected Works of Benedict de Spinoza

In this matter, I think, it would be a mistake to blame philosophy itself, rather than those philosophers who misuse their intellect. I may be permitted to profess this freely, being well aware of my own insignificance in philosophizing. I do not foresee that those who are less friendly to themselves than to philosophy itself could take this poorly.

Regarding the literary history of the writings of Spinoza presented in this volume, far fewer points occur to be noted than for the previous part.

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

Nature, God, and the order of things were known to him,
In this state, Spinoza was to be seen.
Men expressed the face of the man, but to paint his mind
The hands of Zeuxis could not manage.
It thrives in his writings: there he treats of the sublime.
Whoever wishes to know him, read his writings.