Critique of the Most Celebrated Authors

...[conside]red by men, not only those who occupy the lowest seat, but those who hold the primary place among the learned, I cannot but hope that this collection of mine, such as it is, will not be entirely unwelcome to them. Learning Doctrina: Refers to formal education and the systematic acquisition of knowledge. is not obtained without the greatest study and long nights of wakefulness. To think that men become learned through Divine Inspiration original: "Divino Afflatu" is the mark of Fanatics; even a poet is born in vain, unless Diligence original: "Industria" is added to a remarkable Natural Talent original: "Indolem". And this is why few are truly learned—whatever the Smatterers Scioli: From the Latin "scio" (to know), this refers to "pseudo-intellectuals" or those with only a superficial, "smattering" of knowledge. may prattle—because they cannot endure the labor and the effort.

However, so that you might perceive the greatest possible fruit from your reading, I have set before you a certain selection of authors original: "Authorum delectum", and various judgments of the most learned men original: "Doctissimorum Hominum judicia" concerning them; if you diligently compare these among themselves, you will be able both to sharpen and confirm your own judgment, and you will never waste your "oil and labor" original: "oleum atque operam perdes." This is a classical idiom referring to the oil burned in a lamp during late-night study; to lose both oil and labor means to work hard for no result. in unrolling the scrolls of worthless writers.

For as far as the method of the work itself is concerned, it commends itself chiefly on this account: that from it you may be able to furnish a Library original: "Bibliothecam"; for which purpose a Knowledge of Authors original: "Notitia Authorum" is exceptionally useful and necessary. If this is lacking, it often happens that men are cheated of both their time and their money when acquiring books. Therefore, to meet this inconvenience, I have exhausted myself in this labor. For you have here a kind of portrait, as it were, of each Author: from which you may perceive