On Animals (De Animalibus)

THE PREFACE OF THEODORE, A GREEK FROM THESSALONICA, TO THE BOOKS ON ANIMALS OF ARISTOTLE THE PHILOSOPHER, ADDRESSED TO THE SUPREME PONTIFF SIXTUS IV.

Some people, O Supreme Pontiff Sixtus IV, criticize Lycurgus the Lacedaemonian, who established laws for his citizens, because he enacted laws in such a way that he seemed to have greater regard for war than for peace. They praise Numa Pompilius, the Roman king, in the highest degree, because he was so devoted to peace that he would not allow himself to be moved to war for any cause. Although I approve of their opinion in other respects, as I ought (for nothing is more advantageous, nothing more sacred than peace), yet, since the life of men is such that wars cannot always be avoided, I believe it must be determined and advised that war should be undertaken at times if the situation demands it, and peace should always be maintained if it is possible; nor should the rationale of war ever be approved, except so that, once affairs are settled, we may live with a quiet and tranquil mind. We were not born for battle and homicide, not for discord and wars, but for concord and humanity. Therefore, I believe the establishment and duty of a prince is to seek, maintain, and cultivate peace with the greatest effort. Since I understand that almost all Roman Pontiffs have done this as far as they were able, I praise their spirit, because they have neither departed from the institution of good nature nor failed to observe the precept of the divine author, which very often reconciles and commends peace. But I would dare to criticize the practice of some. For they have abused the peace, which they ought to have used for the studies of literature and good arts and the duties of virtues, for pleasures that are not very honorable; which, as it is shameful for every order of men, is most shameful for the person of a pontiff. Yet there were those who used peace correctly and governed the pontificate with great praise, to whom I see you have clearly succeeded as an equal. For you excel in learning and morals, whereby it happens that you judge that your name should be committed to immortality through the study of letters, which never perish, rather than by buildings which are...