Buonaccorso da Montemagno

Buonaccorso da Montemagno (Pistoia 1391/93 — Florence 16 December 1429), was a Renaissance humanist. Quotes De nobilitate (On Nobility) (c. 1428) All quotes are from the Albert Rabil, Jr. translation, in his book Knowledge, Goodness, and Power: The Debate over Nobility among Quattrocento Italian Humanists (1991), published by Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies (Volume 88), 0-86698-100-4 Bold face added for emphasis Oration of Publius Cornelius Scipio Generosity is the highest goal of nobility, and he who does not have enough of the necessities of life strives in vain to practice it in relation to others. It is therefore necessary for one who wishes to be generous to be wealthy. Sustained by wealth, nobility shines through generosity and becomes more notable through the favor and kindness rendered to many. p. 37 Thus an abundance of goods is the greatest help to the adornment of nobility. When, under conditions of affluence, the mind is exposed to virtue, it can develop more brilliantly, and virtue can be seen more resplendently. For these reasons, nobility lies in family and in wealth. p. 37 Oration of Gaius Flaminius But in my judgment the nobility of a man resides not in the reputation of others or in the false gods of fortune, but in his own virtue. For nobility is nothing other than a certain excellence through which the more worthy deeds eclipse the less worthy. Therefore, just as a person, because of excellence of mind, is more worthy than all other creatures, so it is through brilliance of mind that one person excels another. p. 40 Nature has established the mind as the fount of human life and as a kind of mirror, as it were; if you show it beautiful images, it will reflect beautiful images back, but if you show it base images, even baser images will appear. p. 41 I do not think that, in a republic valuing honor, anything is rightfully owed to such children in acknowledgment of the services of their parents, inasmuch as the latter were an ornament of the state, whereas the former were an infamous blot on it. The parents brought distinction and protection to the country; the children brought about their own disgrace and in so doing brought danger to the citizenry. The parents, by their virtue and industry, liberated a country brought to grief by calamities and unsure and fearful about the future; the children, through their worthlessness, strove to disturb and destroy a peaceful and tranquil country. What is the nature of the merits of such people in a well-ordered city? Would it not be more useful to the republic not to have such citizens? pp. 44-45 Thus, the best fathers do not love wicked sons but rather cast them out and reject them. Therefore, nothing from those paternal services to the country devolves upon the children if the paternal virtue does not shine in them. Just as brilliance never glitters in a dark mirror, so virtue cannot shine in the destructive and wicked children of virtuous parents. p. 45 All that boasting about family proclaims the merits of others, not one’s own. p. 45 I maintain that nothing the ignorant crowd thinks in this case should be taken note of, given that it often falls into the greatest errors and that its opinions rarely agree with wisdom. p. 46 How much progress I made under their instruction I leave others to judge. But I can nevertheless say about myself that neither day nor night ever passed without study. The desire for knowledge was infused in me, so to speak, by nature, so that nothing seemed more worthy of my talent than pursuit of knowledge of the good. p. 48 Finally, the sum of my virtues is this: that I strive to be always very diligent in public affairs, cheerful at home, dutiful abroad, energetic in my studies, respectful toward my parents, kind to my neighbors, faithful to my friends, and always very reverent in matters having to do with the gods. By this pattern of behavior I have always thought that I could achieve nobility; with these virtues I have judged that I could acquire an exceptional mind, and certainly, Cornelius, more distinguished than yours. p. 49 If you wish to deserve illustrious titles, you must make yourself outstanding. Virtue cannot be inherited. p. 50 You say that the images of your ancestors are reflected in your appearance. Do you not know that because of your folly you have nullified their reputation? Thus their splendor cannot shine fully in your shadow. p. 50 Wealth gathered for display represents unnecessary labor. Virtue, not beautifully adorned furniture, is the ornament of an illustrious mind. p. 51 Let me lead you, sweet, chaste Lucretia, into my peaceful home; although it is not full of unnecessary adornments, nonetheless it glitters everywhere with virtue, order, joy, and modesty. There, in the first place, you will see my library filled with books, in which I have always placed all my hope. p. 51 External links Category:1420s deaths Category:Classical scholars Category:Humanists Category:Authors from Italy Category:Essayists from Italy Category:People from Tuscany Category:1390 births Category:Poets from Italy