Arpad Steiner, A Mirror for Scholars of the Baroque, Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jun., 1940), II., p. 324:
The first prerequisite of success is self-knowledge. He who is ignorant of himself will never associate with others in the right manner. “All conversation is carried on between at least two persons, one of whom is so constituted as to be capable of winning the favor of others,” and has no peculiarities that may estrange others. “One ought not only to be instructed in all the virtues when seeking the friendship of the learned, but must also control his natural instincts so that he is found pleasant by all and obnoxious by none.” Thus, one should explore the faults and defects of human nature, “in order that he may not fall into them himself; but if he ever observes them in others, he should deal gently with them.” An especially grievous error is made when, without gauging the strength and weakness of our own minds, we attempt too great or unsuitable tasks, instead of acquiescing in the limitations set by nature itself. The mind has a singular strength when it can follow its natural inclinations.
[Daniel Georg] Morhof [1639-1691] does not fail to condemn those who fall into inept polymathy,1 and lose their way in the forest of erudition. They never reach “the clear highway nor any goal,” and resemble those who by greedy appetite upset their stomachs but “convert nothing into blood and sap.” Some with an ambitious effort attack abstruse and recondite problems but soon weary of them, their strength being unequal to the task. Others again engage in too large projects and tumble like Phaëthon from the heights.
1. In his book: Polyhistor Literarius, Philosophicus et Practicus.
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