Category Archives: liberal arts

Melanchthon Laments Rejection of Classical Literature

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“I consider in my mind these admirable gifts of God, namely the study of literature and of the humanities—and apart from the Gospel of Christ this world holds nothing more splendid nor more divine and I also consider, on the … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Artists and the Liberal Arts

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“I want the painter, as far as he is able, to be learned in all the liberal arts, but I wish him above all to have a good knowledge of geometry….Our rudiments, from which the complete and perfect art of … Continue reading →

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

The Remedy of Human Infirmity

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Although pleasurable in many ways, the pursuit of letters is especially fruitful because it excludes all annoyances stemming from differences of times and place, it draws friends into each other’s presence, and it abolishes the situation in which things worth … Continue reading →

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John of Salisbury on the Liberal Arts

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“While there are many sorts of arts, the first to proffer their services to the natural abilities of those who philosophize are the liberal arts.  All of the latter are included in the courses of the Trivium and Quadrivium.  The … Continue reading →

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Cassiodorus on Returning to Books

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“For learning taken from the ancients in the midst of praising the Lord is not considered tasteless boasting. Furthermore, you make a serious teacher angry if you question him often; but however often you want to return to these books, … Continue reading →

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An Exhortation to Learning

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“So learn as though you were to live forever. So live as though you were about to die tomorrow…..Seneca says, ‘Life without letters is death and the tomb of the living man’…and elsewhere: ‘I would rather learn from others with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan of Lille, Learning, liberal arts, teaching | Leave a comment

Martin Luther on Music

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“I would certainly like to praise music with all my heart as the excellent gift of God which it is and to commend it to everyone.  But I am so overwhelmed by the diversity and magnitude of its virtue and … Continue reading →

Posted in liberal arts, Martin Luther, music | 1 Comment

Philosophy, History and Eloquence

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“For to the truly noble mind, and to those who are obligated to involve themselves in public affairs and human communities, knowledge of history and the study of moral philosophy are the more suitable subjects. The rest of the arts are called … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Learning, liberal arts, Pietro Paulo Vergerio, Politics, Renaissance, teaching | Leave a comment

Studies of Free Individuals

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“We call those studies liberal, then, which are worthy of a free [liber] man: they are those through which virtue and wisdom are either practiced or sought, and by which the body or mind is disposed towards all the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, liberal arts, Pietro Paulo Vergerio, Renaissance | Leave a comment