Balancing unequal counterweights; a moral aphorism
A red-chalk saying on anger and money, with a pen note and diagram on tackle blocks
Two unrelated notes share the leaf. In red chalk, a moralising aphorism observes that a man in his anger has struck even the image of his God — imagine had he found Him — and that what he cannot eat he sells, so that with the money he may command other men. In pen, a mechanical note explains that counterweights unequal in weight can be held in equal resistance on equal balance-arms, citing the drawn instrument where a weight of 16 below resists 8; a pulley diagram accompanies it.
On this page
Aphorism on anger and on money as power
In anger a man has struck the very image of his God; think what he would have done had he found Him. And what he cannot eat he sells, so that with such money he may command other men. A moralising, prophecy-like reflection.
Unequal counterweights held in equal resistance
Although the counterweights are unequal in weight on equal balance-arms, they can be made to stand in equal resistance to one another; in the figured instrument a weight of 16 below stands in resistance with 8 on the upper equal arms.
Pulley and balance diagram
A pen sketch of a tackle system with wheels and hanging weights, marked with 8 and crosses and an oval load, illustrates how the unequal counterweights are arranged. It is the 'figured instrument' the text refers to.