ON THE ART OF MEMORY

I believe (he says) that it is hidden from no one original: "Neminem latere existimo" that many arts of memory memoratiuas artes: systems of mnemonics used to memorize vast amounts of information through mental imagery have been published by others. Every single one of these uses exactly the same rules and involves almost the same level of difficulty. For this reason, we have been advised to instead put forward the fruits of this new discovery original: "inuentionis", through which this illustrious business might be handled more seriously, easily, and expeditiously, in order to attain such a desirable art.

The older instructions required long-lasting practice; they relentlessly drove away more gifted minds original: "ingenia foeliciora" from their pursuit and study. Indeed, the more subtle and ready a mind is, the less enduring and (to speak more plainly) the more impatient it tends to be. For some of these spirits, it is advised to touch upon everything lightly rather than to grasp only one thing with difficulty.