True Invention: On the Highly Useful and Splendid Inventions and Arts of the German Nation

Thus invented by Germans.

also the Good original: Bonum is in itself True, and on the contrary—because such Good was created by God the Almighty, and therefore is also True—Evil (called "evil" in and of itself) takes its origin not from the created world or from the goods bestowed by God, but from other causes. Nor is it an actual substance, as the Good is. Ignorance has its origin in Evil, but science original: Wissenschafft; in this period, it refers generally to knowledge, learning, or systematic study or knowledge is from the Good—that is, from that which is True.

Notwithstanding this, there are certain pieces and goods whose own use is unknown; hence the fine little proverb: Happy are the farmers, if they could but recognize their blessings original: Glückseeligkeit; a reference to the Roman poet Virgil’s "Georgics": "O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint, agricolas". Just so, there is also Evil, of which certain jurists legal scholars believe some parts are very necessary for the common benefit and the Republic, and indeed are to be tolerated to a certain extent within the same—namely, usury lending money at interest and common brothels original: Frawen Häuser; literally "women's houses"—although these are not permitted for their own sake, but only for the sake of something else or in relation to another.

In the same way, there are various good and evil things and goods still hidden which have not yet come into human use, but rather must be brought to light through human ingenuity original: Sinnreichigkeit; resourcefulness or cleverness and understanding, and [brought] into common use...