A Dissertation on the Philosophy of Aristotle

I write not with any view to the applause of the many; that I never was, at present am not, and never will be, a hireling writer; that I consider independence, both as it pertains to outward circumstances and inward mental energies, as the greatest of blessings On this occasion I quote the following lines of Horace, as applicable to myself— "A thrifty, truthful farm has given me, and the power to despise the malignant crowd." (Horace, Odes, Book 2, Ode 16). when properly employed; and that, in the language of Socrates, “bidding farewell to the honours of the multitude, and having my eye solely fixed upon truth, I will endeavor to live in the best manner I am able, and when I die, to die so;” which can never be accomplished by one who is afraid to oppose what he conceives to be false and is averse to defending what he believes to be true.

I have given a catalogue of the books I consulted in composing this volume, and in translating Aristotle, not from motives of ostentation, but partly from conceiving that it may be useful to those who wish to make a similar collection, and partly from gratitude to those writers (and there are many such in this catalogue) to whom I have been deeply indebted for information in the course of this very laborious undertaking.

The explanation of certain terms used by Aristotle and his Greek commentators, it is almost needless to observe, was prefixed for the benefit of both the Greek and English student of Aristotle.

And now, having premised this much, after I have made one observation more, I shall take my leave of the reader for some time at least, as the task to the completion of which I shall next devote myself is...