When madness reigns, he detroys. It it because we wish to be intelligent. It is evidently that which man alone is able to do, not being, not living, not feeling, for other creatures outside the human sphere so do. But knowing, by means of one's intellect. Knowing with all possible intelligence.
Action is only an extension of knowing.
Their number is necessary so that they may always and continuously realize the fullest possibilities of human will and intelligence. Propia opus humani generis totali era cepti est actuare semper potentia intellecti possibili. Leon Battista Alberti, circa 1440.