Il natural desiderio di sapere - Pontifical Academy of Sciences

ON THE NATURAL DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE 139enkindled to their imitation, and all ardent and perpetually in the enterpriseof study, must be 97 in a different manner esteemed, regarded, andrewarded. Nor will there be any danger that they be reproached formelancholy or inertia, as no less will they beget actions, the fruits of theircontemplations, than their contemplations themselves, and not even thattheir dissimilitude from others should hinder them as they seek graciouslyto transmit to everyone their talents, and render them as far aspossible similar to themselves, or better, greater in science; likewise theposition and faculty that knowledge gives them will not be envied, orbadly looked upon, nor will it be doubted that such a noble instrumentcould be abused by them, working as they do entirely in service to theirprinces and elders to whom they profess all reverence and in public profitand benefit for the enjoyment of all, and to the harm of no one; so that,also aspiring as much as possible to tranquillity and peace, they have byspecific constitution banned from their studies all controversy outside ofthe natural and mathematical and removed political things as unwelcome,and with reason, to their superiors. 98Thus, demonstrating with their advances and deeds themselves thatthey seek and crave nothing other than wisdom for profit and delight,their own as well as that common to all, and that it is for this that theywork and are for working always, nor do they hurry to finish their studieswith the doctorate in order to begin with their earnings, there is nodoubt that by princes and those who govern they will be favored and promotedto merited honors and also maintained in the necessary funds,these 99 being moved, as is right and as for example has been seen, by theirknown merits by means of their works and by true and sure approbation,for which their positions of public chairs and assistance under the greatwill be better obtained, and also held and exercised with that observanceand decorum which is suitable to such disciplines and to their ends.And there being today no evidence and testimony of sciential perfectionother than fallacious fame, which courses, or the common title of thedoctorate, the former dependent on the idle talk of the ignorant, the latteron the ordinary custom of the schools, what more necessary and whatbetter approbation could be found than that which can come from the97 Must be: understand one can well believe that.98 On this significant aspect please see A. Allegra, Federico Cesi: la figura intellettualee le opere, in F. Cesi, Opere scelte, op. cit., p. LXVIII and passim.99 The princes and those who govern.