Tao Te Ching
Petrarch
1304 – 1374 CE
The “Father of Humanism,” troubadour of romantic love, lover of nature, “Virgil born again,” the most famous unrequited lover, and most important poet of his age; Petrarch inspired an interest in ancient history and as “the first tourist” discovered and translated many old manuscripts including Cicero’s letters that sparked the 14th-century Renaissance. Holding the sense over the words, he challenged orthodoxy and invented new Latin terms to describe Greek philosophy, developed the concept of an historical “Dark Age” after the fall of Rome, a need for a cultural revival, inspired the political, military, and religious leaders of his time to ground their lives in classical values and contemplation. and his sonnets became a model for lyrical poetry through modern times.
Eras
Western
Renaissance (1304 – 1576 CE)Quotes by Petrarch (11 quotes)
“A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires.”
Chapters:
46. Enough
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“Amazed at the heights of mountains, the ocean’s wideness, the power of nature, and the distance of stars; ourselves we consider not.”
Chapters:
33. Know Yourself
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“Love is the crowning grace of humanity, the holiest right of the soul, the golden link which binds us to duty and truth, the redeeming principle that chiefly reconciles the heart to life, and is prophetic of eternal good.”
Chapters:
39. Oneness
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“Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.”
Chapters:
61. Lying Low
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“Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure.”
Chapters:
18. The Sick Society
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“There is always some madness in love, but there is also always some reason in madness.”
Chapters:
18. The Sick Society
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“Gold, houses, estates, garments, paintings... offer a mutable and superficial pleasure but books give delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, join with us in a living and intense intimacy.”
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“Philosophy aims only at hair-splitting, subtle distinctions, word quibbles.”
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“There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen. Other pleasures fail us, or wound us while they charm; but the pen we take up rejoicing, and lay down with satisfaction for it has the power to advantage many others, even though they may not born for thousands of years to come”
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“As there is none among earthly delights more noble than literature, so there is none more lasting, none gentler or more faithful; none that accompanies its possessor through the vicissitudes of life at so small a cost of effort or anxiety.”
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