Of the Advancement of Learning

empirical original: "Emperique"; here meaning people who rely solely on practical experience without theoretical knowledge statesmen who are not well balanced with men grounded in learning. On the contrary, there is almost no instance where a government was disastrous when it was in the hands of learned governors.

Although it has been common for political men to belittle and discredit learned men by calling them "pedants" original: "Pedantes"; at the time, this was a derogatory term for a schoolmaster or scholar who cared more for academic rules than practical reality, the historical records show many specific examples where the governments of princes in their minority—despite the massive disadvantages of that kind of state—have nevertheless excelled the governments of princes of mature age. This occurred for the very reason that critics try to slander: because, in those instances, the state was in the hands of "pedants."

For example, the first five years of the state of Rome under the young Nero, which are so highly praised, occurred while the government was in the hands of Seneca, a "pedant." So it was again for ten years or more during the minority of Gordian the younger, which was conducted with great applause and satisfaction original: "contentation" while in the hands of Misitheus Referring to Timesitheus, a scholar and legal advisor who served as the praetorian prefect, another "pedant." Before that, the minority of Alexander Severus saw similar happiness under similar conditions, because the government was led by the royal women who were aided by teachers and tutors original: "Preceptors".

Indeed, if one looks into the government of the Popes original: "Bishops of Rome"—specifically the reigns of Pius V and Sixtus V in our own times—both were initially regarded as nothing more than "scholarly friars" original: "Pedanticall Friers" at their start. Yet, one shall find that such Popes achieve greater things and act upon more solid principles...