Vorrede.

do not look further than what lies before their feet, and do not think even in the slightest of the future, until they are suddenly overcome and good advice comes too late. Since no one is so foolish that they cannot clearly see in what dangerous times we live so carelessly, not considering the teaching of the ancients when they say:

A wise man should not let things go so far that he must say, "Oh, who would have thought that this should happen?"

Which, however, (alas) happens all too often, and nothing causes this more than security original: "sicherheit" (by which very many are deceived). Since then, always and at all times, foresight original: "vorsichtigkeit" is held in high esteem by all sensible people and praised as a manly deed, while security is greatly scorned as a thoughtless woman's work, why then should we not prefer happy foresight to unhappy security? The wise man directs us to look at the ants,