Georg Wolfgang Knorr; Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch — Schnecken und Muscheln (1770)

The social connection of rational creatures is so unlimited that, according to the pronouncement of a pagan, Seneca, in the book On the Leisure of the Wise original: "de otio sapientis", it is a duty of man to be useful to all, to many, to few, or at least to himself.

The rarities discovered gradually in the realm of nature, and among these also collected hostile a potential error in the original text, likely meant to be "shell-bearing" or "testaceous" animals animals, have famously occupied many a skillful pen; some have been engraved in copper.

Neither one nor the other particular effort has been able to do justice to the multiplicity of their colors.

In the present work, I have made an attempt to make up for this deficiency; thus, to promote the useful and the pleasant for my fellow men according to my purpose.

If kind nature has granted others a greater preference in this, I do not begrudge it to them. My intention is already achieved if I have contributed something according to the talent a reference to the Parable of the Talents entrusted to me by the Creator for the best glorification and the pleasure of my fellow men.

The smallest part of a machine is no less conducive to its movement and perfection, in its own way, than the largest.

I hope, therefore, if not to obtain a favorable reception, at least to earn no contempt for having worked according to my insight in this realm for the pleasure and benefit of human society.

When the revealed word of God wishes to touch the human heart, it says: he who has ears to hear, let him hear. And nature, brought forth from darkness by the Lord, calls out to us at every glance: he who has eyes to see, let him see the creatures by the thousands which the Lord has set up as so many mute witnesses of his essence, his omnipotence, and goodness, so that, as they stand revealed to the eyes of man, they may lift the heart to the Creator.

How many, meanwhile, walk the path of temporality with a cold indifference, without noticing the most sublime works of nature left to itself. Like a drowsily stumbling wanderer who passes through the most beautiful cities in the