The Books on the Family

Leon Battista Alberti - The Books on the Family

Page 9

...[lofty families and states, these] warnings serve to well order and instruct fathers and the whole family, being useful for attaining the ultimate and supreme happiness, and for never having to succumb at any time to wicked and strange fortune Original: fortuna. Alberti views Fortune as a capricious, often cruel force that dominates those who lack the "virtue" or skill to resist it.. And as much as I have been permitted to steal leisure Original: ocio, derived from the Latin otium. In the Renaissance context, this was not idleness but "productive leisure"—time set aside from public or commercial business to devote to study, writing, and self-improvement. from my other affairs, it delights me to have devoted it all to searching among the ancient writers for those precepts they left behind that are fit and suitable for the well-being, honor, and greatness of families. Finding these to be many and most perfect lessons, I judged it my duty to gather them for you and assemble them all together, so that having them collected here in one place, you might learn them with less effort, and knowing them, follow them.

And I believe that once you have reviewed with me the sayings and authorities of those good ancients, and noted the excellent customs of our Alberti ancestors, you will be of this same opinion, and will judge for yourselves that your fortune rests upon your virtue Original: virtú. In this era, virtue meant more than moral rectitude; it encompassed a man's effectiveness, strength of character, and ability to master his environment.. Nor will it please you less, in reading my work, to see the ancient good ways of living and the customs of our house of Alberti; for recognizing the advice and reminders of all our Alberti forefathers to be necessary and most perfect, you will believe them and fulfill them. You will see from them in what way a family multiplies, by what arts it becomes fortunate and blessed, by what means one acquires grace, benevolence, and friendship, through what disciplines honor, fame, and glory are increased and spread to the family, and in what ways the name of families is commended to everlasting praise and immortality.

Yet let no one think me so arrogant that I offer you so many singular things as if you, through your own intellect and prudence, did not already know them well; for it has always been clear and very well known to me that, through talent, erudition, and great knowledge of infinite and most praiseworthy things, each of you is far superior to me. But perhaps this will of mine shall not be in vain, with which for many days now I have labored in this manner to be useful more to those younger ones who are to come than to you, to...