Influential Thinkers of the Renaissance[T]o slaughter fellow-citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of pity, honor, and religion, cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power, but which confer no glory.-from The PrinceHere, in one volume, are three of the greatest works of the Renaissance, artifacts of the flowering of learning and culture in Europe that gave birth to our modern world: . The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), is one of the most significant-and most remarkably misunderstood-essays on government ever written. A product of the political intrigue of Florentine Italy, it is a stunning commentary on ambition and the uses and misuses of power.. Utopia, by Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), is a startling work of social and cultural philosophy that may also, with its fictional conceit, be considered a forerunner of the novel.. Ninety-Five Theses, by Martin Luther (1483-1546), ushered in the religious upheaval of the Reformation. A searing indictment of the corruption in the Catholic Church, Luther's writings laid the foundations for the diverse religious culture in which we live today.With its introductory notes and commentary, this edition, first published in 1910, is a compact course in humanities and cultural history, and essential reading for any liberal education. |
From inside the book
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Page 12
... friends on the condition of sparing him humiliation ; nor could all the power of Antiochus bring them to consent to his exercising any authority within that Province . And in thus acting the Romans did as all wise rulers should , who ...
... friends on the condition of sparing him humiliation ; nor could all the power of Antiochus bring them to consent to his exercising any authority within that Province . And in thus acting the Romans did as all wise rulers should , who ...
Page 13
... friends , but on the contrary , owing to the conduct of Charles , every door was shut against him , he was driven to accept such friend- ships as he could get . And his designs might easily have succeeded had he not made mistakes in ...
... friends , but on the contrary , owing to the conduct of Charles , every door was shut against him , he was driven to accept such friend- ships as he could get . And his designs might easily have succeeded had he not made mistakes in ...
Page 14
... friends and those who had thrown themselves into his arms , while he strengthened the Church by adding great temporal power to the spiritual power which of itself confers so mighty an authority . Making this first mistake , he was ...
... friends and those who had thrown themselves into his arms , while he strengthened the Church by adding great temporal power to the spiritual power which of itself confers so mighty an authority . Making this first mistake , he was ...
Page 18
... entrusting its government to a few of the inhabitants who will keep the rest your friends . Such a Government , since it is the creature of the new Prince , will see that it cannot stand without his protection and support 18 MACHIAVELLI.
... entrusting its government to a few of the inhabitants who will keep the rest your friends . Such a Government , since it is the creature of the new Prince , will see that it cannot stand without his protection and support 18 MACHIAVELLI.
Page 26
... friends , the Duke had laid sufficiently good foundations for his future power , since he held all Romagna together with the Dukedom of Urbino , and had ingratiated himself with the entire population of these States , who now began to ...
... friends , the Duke had laid sufficiently good foundations for his future power , since he held all Romagna together with the Dukedom of Urbino , and had ingratiated himself with the entire population of these States , who now began to ...
Contents
79 | |
An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Bar | 86 |
THE LIFE OF SIR THOMAS MORE | 92 |
SIR THOMAS MORE | 143 |
THE NINETYFIVE THESES | 259 |
ADDRESS TO THE CHRISTIAN NOBILITY OF THE GERMAN | 276 |
HC XXXVI | 289 |
CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY | 353 |
Common terms and phrases
able Agathocles Amaurote antichrist arms army authority believe bishops brought called canon law Cardinal Cardinal Wolsey cause Cesare Borgia Christ Christendom Christian Church citizens cometh commanded Commodus commonwealth contrary council counsel death desire divers doth Duke Emperor enemies evil faith father favour fear fortune Francesco Sforza friends give God's Grace hand hath holy honour Howbeit Italy keep King King's kingdom of Naples labour laws learned liberty live Lord Chancellor man's marriage matter mean season mind nature never nobles offence pardons perceive Peter pleasure Pope Pope Julius II Pope's priests Prince Princedom profit punishment quoth Realm reason received religion rich Romagna Roman Rome Scriptures servant Sir Thomas soldiers soul spirit subjects suffer temporal thereof things thou tion unto Utopians Venetians virtue weal public wherein whole wife wise words
Popular passages
Page 386 - IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Page 385 - For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Page 346 - I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation : and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing : and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Page 364 - And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews ; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law...
Page 305 - Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Page 286 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God ; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Page 364 - A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.
Page 125 - Whatsoever impediment be to the contrary, we will set forth that authority to the uttermost. For we received from that See our crown imperial...