Paracelsus

“ One man reveals more traits of loyalty and less of disloyalty; one man is to a large extent this, another man that. Therefore we should keep an eye on the outward characteristics which nature gives a man by shaping him in a certain way. For nature shapes the anatomy of a pear in such a way that the pear develops into a pear tree ”

“ What the eyes perceive in herbs or stones or trees is not yet a remedy; the eyes see only the dross. But inside, under the dross, there the remedy lies hidden. First it must be cleansed from the dross, then it is there. This is alchemy, and this is the office of Vulcan; he is the apothecary and chemist of the medicine.
8. If we want to make a statement about a man's nature on the basis of his physiognomy, we must take everything into account; it is in his distress that a man is tested, for then his nature is revealed. For in extremis, things reveal their nature and become visible ”

“ For it is not God's design that the remedies should exist for us, ready-made, boiled and salted, but that we should boil them ouselves, and it pleases Him that we boil them and learn in the process, that we train ourselves in this art and are not idle on earth, but labour in daily toil. ”

“ Of such apparations we must know how they take place and how they came to us; when we are in great need, we can obtain from them God's kindness if our prayer pours in true faith from a truthful mouth and heart. Then God sends us such a messenger who appears to us in spirit, warns us, consoles us, teaches us, and brings us His good tidings. ”

“ God created iron but not that which is to be made from it... He enjoined fire, and Vulcan, who is the lord of fire, to do the rest..... From this it follows that iron must be cleansed of its dross before it can be forged. ”

“ From time immemorial artistic insights have been revealed to artists in their sleep and in dreams, so that at all times they ardently desired them. Then their imagination could work wonders upon wonders and invoke the shades of the philosophers, who would instruct them in their art. ”

“ The dreams which reveal the supernatural are promises and messages that God sends us directly: they are nothing but His angels, His ministering spirits, who usually appear to us when we are in a great predicament .... ”

“ However, anyone to whom this happens should not leave his room upon awakening, should speak to no-one, but remain alone and sober until everything comes back to him, and he recalls the dream. ”

“ This process is alchemy: its founder is the smith Vulcan. ”

“ Dreams must be heeded and accepted. For a great many of them come true .... ”

“ Medicine rests upon four pillars -philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, and ethics. ”

“ For it is we who must pray for our daily bread, and if He grants it to us, it is only through our labour, our skill and preparation. ”

“ Although Alchemy has now fallen into contempt, and is even considered a thing of the past, the physicain should not be influenced by such judgements. ”