On Love (Commentary on Plato's Symposium)

just as in the beginning, or in the state of those others, which grow by love, and not by force; as our own has done, and does. And finally, let the pure Tuscans, or the Latins, say what pleases them, that those who study Greek letters cannot, without their gravest prejudice, understand this, otherwise than as well-done: When they will look at the difficulties that they would have more, if today Greek words were not clothed in their accents. And this may suffice for me for now as regards having put them into use: We shall speak later of their being in their proper place.

But because I now believe I have defended myself enough, and I think that you have fully understood my intent: I shall come with a more secure and quiet spirit, to demonstrate to you all the promised particular observations; and to tell you the samples of that utility which follows from it.

I say therefore, firstly, that having in our pronunciation more sounds than letters assigned in the alphabet to the expression of those: and an infinity of words entirely similar in letters and in sound, but different in accents: Our writing has been necessitated until today, to its own defect and the confusion of readers, to make use many times of one single, and catchword: &