Description of the Arts

...be drawn into common use. We, however, intend to treat here (not of the evil and harmful) but of the useful and good inventions original: Erfindungen of men. For the more useful these are to the human race, the more they are hidden and difficult to discover. This is not because Nature begrudges their use to the human race, but rather to encourage and sharpen the human mind. Thus, those who first discovered and gained possession of such arts through great labor and effort—by which, according to the opinion of the philosophers original: Weltweisen; literally "the world-wise." Maier likely refers here to the Greek poet Hesiod's sentiment that "the gods sell us all good things for hard work.", the immortal gods are accustomed, as it were, to sell their goods to men—would henceforth hold them in all the greater value and honor. They would be far less tempted or moved to dishonor these arts or to share them with those who are unworthy.

There are various notable goods, arts, and inventions of this kind. Some are Universalia Universal or general and common, which are useful to the entire world in general, or to Christendom and other kingdoms, lands, and peoples simultaneously. These are so profitable that they even cause a general change original: Verenderung; referring to major historical or social shifts brought about by technology in the world. On the other hand, there are those which are Particular Specific or private, which do not extend as far as those just mentioned, nor do they have so great a...