Iacobi Acontii Tridentini de methodo, hoc est, de recta investigandarum, tradendarumque artium, ac scientiarum ratione

...for explaining things conveniently. Whatever that may be, since I hoped it would be of great benefit to every excellent talent, I decided to share this fruit of my labors, such as it is, with all students. Therefore, if gold is found in the treasury which I would greatly wish, it will be as pleasing to me as anything could be; but if coals are found as the proverb goes, certainly no one but the most wicked person will disapprove of my attempt, for which, even if I could not be useful, I at least had the will to be. For perhaps some happier talents will be aroused by this, who might accomplish what I could not. But I would most wish for such readers as would either have no knowledge of a methodical system at all, or believe themselves to have it, or, if they had read what has been handed down by others on this subject, would at least attempt to set aside whatever understanding of it they believe they have attained, for as long as they can judge with an open mind what we also feel. I would furthermore wish that they would make a trial of our system on some easy subject, first by investigating the knowledge of the thing from the precepts we are about to hand down, and then...