Author Archives: Matthew Phillips

History as the Soul’s Path to Glory

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“What guides and controls human life is man’s soul.  If it pursues glory by the path of virtue, it has all the resources and abilities it needs for winning fame, and is independent of fortune, which can neither give any … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Intellect, Sallust, virtue | Leave a comment

The Sweetness of the Cross

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

    “Now, what sweetness was your heart able to imbibe when, with your inner eye, you saw the Lord carrying his cross? Who can appreciate that humility, that meekness, that patient endurance?  Indeed, he was led like a sheep to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aelred of Rievaulx, Christ, Cross | Tagged | Leave a comment

John of Salisbury on Pride and Death

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“Pride is truly the root of all the evils that feed mortality.  Streams become dry if the source of the flow is cut off; a tree will not thrive with severed roots.  Vices languish if passion banished; yet if manure … Continue reading →

Posted in John of Salisbury, pride, vice | Leave a comment

Reading the Best Authors

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“This then will be our first study: to read only the best and most approved authors.  Our second will be to bring to this reading a keen critical sense.  The reader must study the reasons why the words are placed … Continue reading →

Posted in languages, Leonardo Bruni, liberal arts, reading, Renaissance | Leave a comment

Hugh of St. Victor on the Sacred Scriptures

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“For the whole Divine Scripture is one Book, and the one Book is Christ, for the whole Divine Scripture speaks of Christ and is fulfilled in Christ.  Our purpose in reading Scripture is that, by gaining knowledge of what He … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, Hugh of St Victor, teaching, theology | Leave a comment

Luther on Pride of Students

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“We have many students here who are so full of knowledge after they have been in Wittenberg half a year that they suppose they are more learned than I am.  When they go out into the country to other people, … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Learning, Martin Luther, pride | Leave a comment

The Strongest Consolation

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Thus the most precious treasure and strongest consolation we Christians have is this: that the Word, the true and natural Son of God, became man, with flesh and blood like that of any other human; that He became incarnate for … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christmas, Martin Luther, theology | Leave a comment

Career Advice from the Renaissance

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“To decide which is the most suitable career to himself, a man must take two things into account: the first is his own intelligence, his mind and his body, everything about himself; and the second, the question requiring close considerations, … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Leon Battista Alberti, liberal arts, Renaissance | Leave a comment

Cicero on Just War

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Something else that must very much be preserved in public affairs is the justice of warfare.  There are two types of conflict: the one proceeds by debate, the other by force. Since the former is the proper concern of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, government, war | Leave a comment

Dr. Luther on War and Peace

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“It is indeed a splendid and needful thing to build strong castles against one’s enemies; but that is nothing when compared with the work of a prince who builds a stronghold of peace, that is, loves peace and administers it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther, war | Leave a comment