All believe that what is called wisdom is concerned with the first causes and principles. So, as stated before, someone experienced seems [δοκεῖ] to be wiser than one who has any of the sensations, an artist [τεχνίτης] wiser than one who is experienced, a master artist [ἀρχιτέκτων] wiser than a manual worker [χειροτέκνου], and the theoretical [sciences seem to be wisdom] to a higher degree than the productive [sciences] [αἱ δὲ θεωρητικαὶ τῶν ποιητικῶν μᾶλλον]. Clearly then, wisdom is the science of certain causes and principles.

such is the science of that which is knowable [ἐπιστητοῦ] in the highest degree; and that which is knowable in the highest degree is that which is first and the causes, for it is because of these and from these that the other things are known [γνωρίζεται], and not these because of the underlying subjects. Finally, the most commanding [ἀρχικωτάτη] science, and superior [μᾶλλον ἀρχική] to any subordinate science, is the one which knows [γνωρίζουσα] that for the sake of which each action is done, and this is the good in each case [τἀγαθὸν ἑκάστου], and, comprehensively, the highest good [τὸ ἄριστον] in the whole of nature.