German composition

Section 1 A Good Maxim⁠1

My maxim is: never to begin⁠2 a book without finishing⁠3 it, never to consider⁠4 it finished without⁠5 knowing it, and to study⁠6 it with⁠7 a whole mind.—Sir Thomas Buxton.

Notes

1 Grundsatz, m.

2 to begin, an´fangen. When the Infinitive is used either subjectively or objectively, it is generally preceded by the preposition zu, and is called Supine. Comp. S. 78, N. 14, 1. To form the Supine Present of compound separable verbs, like an´fangen, we must place the preposition zu between the separable prefix and the verb. The Supine must be used here. See App. § 1.

3 to finish, beendigen. The Supine is generally used for rendering the English Gerund (i.e. the verbal in -ing) when the latter is governed by a preposition, though, sometimes, this form may be rendered by the help of the subordinative conjunction daß and a finite verb (i.e. one with a personal termination); as—
He judges without understanding anything about the matter. Er urteilt, ohne etwas von der Sache zu verstehen, or ohne daß er etwas von der Sache versteht.
Use the Supine, which is always to be placed at the end of the clause.

4 To consider a thing finished, eine Sache als beendigt betrachten. The pronoun ‘it’ should begin the clause. See App. § 2.

5 without — it, ohne mit dem Inhalt desselben vertraut zu sein.

6 to study, studie´ren.

7 with — mind = with undivided attention.