The Twelve Keys of Philosophy

suaded me to publish them, was the
request made of me by several
persons of high standing. Desiring
to satisfy them, I have had these works
translated from German original: "Alemand" and Latin into
our French language, to offer
them to those of my homeland,
knowing that our nation is at
present the most inquisitive In the 17th century, "curious" (curieuse) described a person or nation with a deep, studious interest in new knowledge and the secrets of nature. of
all the other nations of Europe.
This is the main consideration
that moved me to bring them
to light, believing that they would
be necessary to the public, even
so that they might serve to
turn many away from an
infinity of useless things to
which they devote themselves,
and to lead them along the
true paths of Nature, which is
the unbreakable bond by which
they will align themselves with
the duty of reason; and in
doing so, God will grant them the