Preface.

...short-sighted and weak minds The original German blöde here signifies a lack of mental clarity or physical "dimness" rather than modern "stupidity." would be held back, and right from the start be discouraged by this heavenly shimmer and light from escaping their misfortune and ruin. Thus, they might apply their time and money better than having to learn the truth only after many years and much labor, alongside the ruin of their bodies and means. This has brought some to the point where, instead of finding the Philosopher's Stone Philosopher's Stone|The Lapis Philosophorum, the ultimate goal of alchemy, believed to possess the power of transmutation and universal healing., they were forced to eat common stones for lack of bread. The author is making a grim pun: by chasing the "Philosopher's Stone," these failed alchemists became so poor they had nothing to eat but literal stones from the street. And this is my intention to do all the more—since I could not write anything more in the main work itself than others before me have already written—so that I might all the more perfectly treat the nature of this Art Art|Often capitalized in these texts to refer specifically to Alchemy, the "Hermetic Art.", the required sciences, necessary circumstances, equipment, opportunity, time, the manner of reading philosophical books, and the like. In these matters, the reader will learn and discover just as much, and even more, than if I had occupied myself extensively with the preparation of the Stone alone. For by doing so, as if providing a master key, I demonstrate and instruct how to comprehend the subject in general. My goal is to bring those chosen for this work to it all the sooner, and to lead the others away from it—for the benefit and salvation of both.