Letter to the Gold-Seeking Lovers of Chemistry and Alchemy

...one became tin, the third silver,
and why one is always more perfect
than the other, up to gold, as
the most perfect of all.

10. To arrive at this, one must read dili-
gently—specifically the best authors, and not the
pseudo-philosophers original: "Affter-Philosophos"; refers to false or "mimic" philosophers who lack genuine understanding of the Art.—and do so not just once or
twice, but as often as possible. Then one can
easily see what they all aim for, and where
they are most in agreement. One must not let
any effort discourage them. I certainly know
people who know all the philosophical maxims original: "Sentenzen"
by heart, just like the Lord's Prayer original: "Vater unser",
without having grasped anything of the Art The "Art" refers to the practice of Alchemy, specifically the transformation of matter.,
or having put such things to any true
use. They have only skimmed
through the books without pausing where
necessary for the highly essential
synthesis original: "Combinirung" and real reflections.
In a word, they know nothing beyond these
maxims. They see the foundation
before their eyes; they have lime,
gravel, and other stones, yet they
nevertheless do not know which stone
they should use to lay the
foundation of their building. They
are and remain eternally indecisive.