Words of Wisdom from Petrarch

Read the following three excerpts from Petrarch's Letters (I won't make you translate from the Latin), and write a brief response to one of them. Does it "speak to you" across the ages? In what respects does it express some of the main ideas of the Renaissance? Please try to keep your postings brief. Comments should be made before Tuesday 9/25. (28) Then there are books of different kinds in whose substance and whose authors one has pleasant, unfailing companions, ready at his bidding to go into public or return to his house, always prepared to be silent or to speak, to stay at home or to accompany him in the woods, to travel, to remain in the country, to converse, to amuse, to cheer, to comfort, to advise, to dispute, to consult, to teach the secrets of nature, the memorable deeds of history, the rule of life and the contempt of death, moderation in prosperity, fortitude in adversity, equanimity and steadfastness in all our actions; cheerful associates, learned, humble, and eloquent, free from annoyance and expense, without complaint or grumbling, without envy or treachery. Add to all these benefits that they do not ask for food or drink and are content with scant raiment and a narrow portion of the house, though they afford their hosts inestimable treasures of mind, spacious houses, brilliant attire, delightful entertainment, and most savory food. (29) For behold, there will come persons who will show us the way to great riches, which is nothing else than to teach avarice— truly a pernicious school, and an exceedingly laborious and difficult doctrine, to be learned only with great expense of vigils and toil, and destined either to miss its goal or to do injury by its success. To a mind occupied in such thoughts let us say, “Consider, rather, the way to avoid the desire of riches.” For that is the more useful, and certainly the easier art, and if the mind is a little slow and indisposed for this lesson, it should be stimulated with additional incentives. Let us prove to it that, aside from the evils of riches concerning which I have just been speaking and which are daily in the mouths of many persons, this art is in our own hands while the other is in the power of fortune. Any one may despise wealth, to gain it is not so easy. You know that saying of our friend, “Why should I demand of fortune that she give, rather than demand of myself that I should not crave?” And so I think it is better to leave unattempted an undertaking which is difficult and of doubtful issue and which, even if it were of assured utility, would be ill-timed and too late. For look, shall we perspire and pant and torture ourselves for fear of lacking sustenance in our short and perishable existence when, as I said, we already have means heaped up to the extent of enviable luxury? (30) Cicero, you recall, writing once to his brother said, "As for your frequent exhortations to me in the past to ambition and work, I shall act on them, but when shall we live?" A brief question but a pregnant one. Similarly may not any one reply with sufficient point and seriousness to the adviser I have just spoken of? “Your suggestion, my friend, is good, if only it is practicable. But when shall we begin to live, I pray you, whose part it clearly is not merely to begin to live but already to have lived?” For this life of constant anxiety, directed toward the morrow, is not life at all, but preparation for a life which may never come and which is well known to be doubtful. Among many observations of the plebeian poet you may hold this one as not spoken in an ignorant manner:Trust me, it is not the nature of a wise man to say, “I shall live.”It is too late to live tomorrow, you must live today.

Summer Fun?

Welcome! In this initial assignment I would like you to post a brief entry giving your assessment of A World Lit Only By Fire. What did you like about the book, and what did you dislike? What in your opinion were its strengths and weaknesses? Feel free to comment on each other's comments. Remember, keep you posts brief, on topic, and professional. Do no create new posts, but instead add comments. Everyone should post comments by Friday 9/14.