Category Archives: history

History is the Foundation of Sacred Learning

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“First you learn history and diligently commit to memory the truth of the deeds that have been performed, reviewing from beginning to end what has been done, when it has been done, where it has been done, and by whom … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Hugh of St Victor, memory | Leave a comment

Rulers Must Not Ignore History

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“He who diligently examines past events easily foresees future ones in every country and can apply to them the remedies used by the ancients or, not finding any that have been used, can devise new ones because of the similarity … Continue reading →

Posted in government, history, Machiavelli, teaching | Leave a comment

The Necessity of Historians

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Triumphal arches add to the glory of illustrious men only when the writing upon them informs in whose honor they have been reared, and why.  It is the inscription that tells the spectator that the triumphal arch is that of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, John of Salisbury, memory, teaching | Leave a comment

The Foundation of the Liberal Arts

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Grammar takes its name from the written character, as the derivation of the word indicates.  The definition of grammar is this: Grammar is the science which teaches us to explain the poets and historians; it is the art which qualifies … Continue reading →

Posted in grammar, history, Rhabanus Maurus | 1 Comment

History, politics, morals, and lawyers

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“A lawyer is indeed unworthy of that title if he is ignorant of the things philosophers have established regarding the state and morals.  He should be removed from his post if he has not learned what his ancestors have done … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Johann Sturm, lawyers, teaching | Leave a comment

All the liberal arts flow from history

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“I do not know if our world would suffer less harm without the sun, its soul as it were, than without history, the principle of all civil activities.  Our forebears have often insisted unanimously that the Muses were born from … Continue reading →

Posted in history, memory, Philip Melanchthon, teaching | Leave a comment

The Duty to Understand History

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

For it is our duty to understand the origins of our own history and its development; and the achievements of Peoples and of Kings.  For the careful study of the past enlarges our foresight in contemporary affairs and affords to … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Learning, Leonardo Bruni | Leave a comment

Books & Memory

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“For although written records are very valuable indeed for other purposes, they are especially valuable for preserving the memory of the past, as they contain the deeds of mankind, the unhoped-for turns of fortune, the unusual works of nature, and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Learning, memory, Pietro Paulo Vergerio, Renaissance, teaching | Leave a comment

The Prince Must Read History

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“As for intellectual training, the prince must read history, studying the actions of eminent men to see how they conducted themselves during war and to discover the reasons for their victories or their defeats, so that he can avoid the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Machiavelli | 1 Comment

Memory, identity and history

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Our memory is the thread of our personal identity; our memory liberates us from what Melanchthon, Luther’s colleague, called perpetual childhood.  Without our past we have no present or future.” Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations, 2nd Ed, p. 2 Lindberg … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Martin Luther, memory, Philip Melanchthon | Leave a comment