"From the viewpoint of the fore-word ... the text exists as something written -- a past -- which, under the false appearance of a present, a hidden omnipotent author ... is presenting to the reader as his future. Here is what I wrote, then read, and what I am writing that you are going to read. After which you will be able to take possession of this preface which in sum you have not yet begun to read, even though, once having read it, you will already have anticipated everything that follows and thus you might just as well dispense with reading the rest," ( 7).