Author Archives: Matthew Phillips

Petrarch on Copying Books

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Your Cicero has been in my possession four years and more.  There is a good reason, though, for so long a delay; namely, the scarcity of copyists who understand such work. It is a state of affairs that has resulted … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, manuscripts, Petrarch, writing | Leave a comment

The Power to Tax is the Power to Control

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“This power, exercised without limitation, will introduce itself into every corner of the city, and country.—It will wait upon the ladies at their toilett [sic], and will not leave them in any of their domestic concerns; it will accompany them … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles of Confederation, government, history, Politics | Leave a comment

C.S. Lewis on Education

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“For every pupil who needs to be guarded from a weak excess of sensibility there are three who need to be awakened from the slumber of cold vulgarity.  The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles … Continue reading →

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Luther on the Crusades

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“The popes have never seriously intended to wage war against the Turk; instead they used the Turkish war as a cover for their game and robbed Germany of money by means of indulgences whenever they took the notion….If they had … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Crusades, government, Martin Luther | Leave a comment

God’s Little Puppet Show

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Now the blind world, because it does not know God and his work, concludes that it is owing to its own cleverness, reason, and strength that a community or dominion endures and thrives.  Accordingly, they gather together great treasures, stuff … Continue reading →

Posted in community, government, history, Martin Luther | Leave a comment

The Foundations of Understanding

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Tender years should first be instructed in rules of the art or grammar, in analogies, in barbarisms, in solecisms, in tropes and schemata.  These are the studies on which Donatus, Servius, Priscian, Isidore, Bede, and Cassiodorus expounded with much diligence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, liberal arts, medieval, teaching | Leave a comment

Luther on Rulers and History

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“A prince must also be very wise and not always try to impose his will, even if he has the right and the best of all reasons to do so.  For it is a far nobler virtue to put up … Continue reading →

Posted in government, history, Martin Luther | Leave a comment

Cicero on Wisdom and Action

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“The foremost of all the virtues is the wisdom that the Greeks call sophia.  (Good sense, which they call phronensis, we realize is something distinct, that is the knowledge of things that one should pursue and avoid.) But the wisdom … Continue reading →

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Cicero on Reason’s Guidance

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“To sum up: when undertaking any action, we must hold fast to three things. First, impulse must obey reason; nothing is more suited to ensuring the observance of one’s duties than that. Secondly, we must keep in mind the importance … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, reason | Leave a comment

A Medieval Good Friday

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Faithful cross, true sign of triumph, Be for all the noblest tree; None in foliage, None in blossom, None in fruit thine equal be; Symbol of the world’s redemption, For the weight that hung on thee!” 4th verse in Sing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, gospel, medieval, Peter Lombard, preaching | Leave a comment