In their time, gentleman and scholars of the renaissance had no access to the classic literature. In a time when they're fellows perished for lack of wisdom, these men had to find and recover the ancient writings of Aristotle, Cicero, and Virgil. Much of what they found came from Arabic manuscripts. It is alarming that not even fragments could have been found in Western Europe. Horace, the Roman poet once commented on the rejection of wisdom when he said "
Fortunam et vitam antiquae patriae saepe laudas sed recusas." which translated means "The ancient fathers knew fortune and praised vitality, but ye have rejected them."
In our time, the common person has never learned any of the ancient lessons, although they have virtually unlimited access to them. In what silver age do we live in where every best book is free yet no one takes heed? Our eternal duty is to become wise, provide for our families, and create a beautiful world. It would profit us much to harken to the truth, once taught and now forgotten. The fortune and life the ancients once knew.
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