DISCOURSE ON METHOD. 77 



proportion as I give myself to the search. And, in 

 a single word, if there is any work in the world 

 which cannot be so well finished by another as by 

 him who has commenced it, it is that at which I 

 labour. 



It is true, indeed, as regards the experiments 

 which may conduce to this end, that one man is not 

 equal to the task of making them all , but yet he can 

 advantageously avail himself, in this work, of no 

 hands besides his own, unless those of artisans, or 

 parties of the same kind, whom he could pay, and 

 whom the hope of gain (a means of great efficacy) 

 might stimulate to accuracy in the performance of 

 what was prescribed to them. For as to those who, 

 through curiosity or a desire of learning, of their 

 own accord perhaps, offer him their services, 

 besides that in general their promises exceed their 

 performance, and that they sketch out fine designs 

 of which not one is ever realized, they will, without 

 doubt, expect to be compensated for their trouble 

 by the explication of some difficulties, or, at least, 

 by compliments and useless speeches, in which he 

 cannot spend any portion of his time without loss to 

 himself. And as for the experiments that others 

 have already made, even although these parties 

 should be willing of themselves to communicate 

 them to him, (which is what those who esteem them 

 secrets will never do,) the experiments are, for the 

 most part, accompanied with so many circumstances 

 and superfluous elements, as to make it exceed- 

 ingly difficult to disentangle the truth from its 

 adjuncts ; besides, he will find almost all of them so 



