In 1785 Immanuel Kant published the Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. In its first section he writes that the good will is good not through what it brings about or achieves, sondern allein durch das Wollen, but only through its willing. Kant imagines a good will that achieves nothing despite its greatest effort. Then, he writes, so würde er wie ein Juwel doch für sich selbst glänzen, it would still shine like a jewel by its own light, as something that has its full worth in itself. Its usefulness or fruitlessness can neither add to this worth nor take anything from it.