Complete Works, Volume 1: The Book on Games of Chance

Medicine; rather than to flutter and luxuriate through all things: political, economic, mechanical, astrological, fleeting, eternal, celestial, infernal. But so it happens, variety delights; and insane curiosity turns the human mind upside down.

Why, therefore, are these things offered to you, the Supreme Magistrate? By Hercules, because it is the duty of magistrates, just as it is of the wise, to know, judge, choose, and expunge all things. Add that every honest and truly noble soul, such as Nature and a better God have implanted in you, avidly pursues serious studies if they are seasoned with the honey of delight; and is most of all enticed by the philtre of novelty. Such things occur most frequently in Cardano: which he always pursues in his own way, namely for the perpetual use of life, morals, and health: And that without pretense and finery; indeed, too often without elegance; being more fond of things than of words: Although where he strives to be elegant, he does so energetically: and in that, he surpasses himself, as he does many others. But if anything should escape the Author in such a mass of writing that you would rather not have been said, that is certainly compensated by a thousand and a thousand well-said things: and even that same thing increases the grace of the rest; not otherwise than in a painting, a little black makes shadows and adds honor to the picture.