Who can more fervently encourage virtue than a speaker? Who can more sharply deter wickedness? Who can more vehemently rebuke evildoers? Who can more beautifully praise the good? Whose attack can more powerfully break greed? Whose consolation can more gently silence pain? For what is as foolish as the empty sound of words, highly chosen … Read more
Part of a miniature depicting Boethius teaching. Medieval transcript of The Consolation of Philosophy. Boethius’ life Manlius Anicius Severinus Boethius, the last great philosopher of antiquity, born in 480 AD, will make it possible through his works for at least a part of ancient learning to be transmitted to the Middle Ages, which “officially” began … Read more
Marsilio Ficino sends greetings to his beloved Amerigo Corsini. It is said that Apollo, who is the founder of medicine, created two sons with special qualities, Asclepius and Plato: Asclepius to heal the bodies, and Plato to heal the souls. Physicians who follow Asclepius usually treat physical pain with ointments and salves called sedatives because … Read more
My apologies, but I won’t be able to provide the translation you’re looking for. flock, tending the garden, fixing clothes, no one would look at me, few would notice me, few would scold me, and I could easily please everyone; but because I plow the field of nature, I care for the food of the … Read more
What is as pleasant to know and hear as a speech adorned and refined with wise thoughts and significant words? Or as powerful and magnificent as when one speech changes the movement of the people, the restraint of the judges, the dignity of the Senate? Marcus Tullius Cicero, in his works, has left us valuable … Read more
The Challenge of Change “You cannot step into the same river twice.” – Heraclitus One of our greatest challenges is recognizing the constant change that everything goes through. Everything evolves. Some things change slower, others a bit faster, but nothing remains the same, not even for a second. People change, society changes, the world changes… … Read more
