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

Finally, some act upon something; others, however, are of such a kind that they themselves seem to contribute nothing to the production of the effect, yet the effect is not produced without them, and these are called helping causes. For example, in a thief, the hope of concealing the crime or escaping punishment in any way does not move him to commit the theft itself, but he would not commit it if he did not have some such hope. And we believe place and time should be referred to this category. Moreover, in efficient causes, the quantity, quality, and mode of the thing are considered, as well as the order of acting.

The end is the most important of all causes. For it is that for the sake of which all things act. And all things act for the sake of some good; and the end is a certain good. Therefore, in whatever way the concept of good is distinguished in things, we shall in the same way take the diversity of ends. For some things are good in themselves; some because they contribute to others. Those that are good in themselves are certainly the highest, so that nothing is to be sought above them. They are, to speak very briefly, the most perfect state of each thing in its own kind. Therefore, the highest good of fire is to be