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In Reply to: PLEASE POST YOUR SECOND REQUIRED POSTING AS FOLLOWUPS TO THIS POST posted by Tom Bacig on January 13, 1999 at 21:59:54:

: In both Castiglione’s The Courtier, and Machiavelli’s On the Family, each author gives an
insight on how they view Alberti’s “proposition” of the necessity of man to be educated in all
arts and how he will achieve great praise for doing so.

Castiglione believes that when a Courtier exhibits great knowledge and good qualities to those
he serves, he will achieve praise by them. However, he does not believe that a Courtier needs
“perfect knowledge of things and other qualities that befit a commander... we shall be satisfied,
if he have complete loyalty and an undaunted spirit,”

Machiavelli distinguishes common expectations as being imaginary and real. He states that it is
unreal to acquire all qualities, and that princes should avoid trying to in order to keep control of
his state. His writing could also be characterized as stating the difference in what we expect in
ourselves between that of what we actually do achieve.

All three men acknowledge the great importance of a broad base of education. In my opinion
Machiavelli supports the most logical response to the expectations of Alberti.
Everyone has a different needed amount of knowledge to be successful. When we try too hard to
prove that we are perfect and “all-knowing”, we can easily burden ourselves by expecting too
much. In short, by trying to impress others for praise, we get caught up trying to be someone we
aren’t and sometimes forfeiting everything we have to do so.

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: : In both Castiglione’s The Courtier, and Machiavelli’s On the Family, each author gives an : insight on how they view Alberti’s “proposition” of the necessity of man to be educated in all : arts and how he will achieve great praise for doing so. : Castiglione believes that when a Courtier exhibits great knowledge and good qualities to those : he serves, he will achieve praise by them. However, he does not believe that a Courtier needs : “perfect knowledge of things and other qualities that befit a commander... we shall be satisfied, : if he have complete loyalty and an undaunted spirit,” : Machiavelli distinguishes common expectations as being imaginary and real. He states that it is : unreal to acquire all qualities, and that princes should avoid trying to in order to keep control of : his state. His writing could also be characterized as stating the difference in what we expect in : ourselves between that of what we actually do achieve. : All three men acknowledge the great importance of a broad base of education. In my opinion : Machiavelli supports the most logical response to the expectations of Alberti. : Everyone has a different needed amount of knowledge to be successful. When we try too hard to : prove that we are perfect and “all-knowing”, we can easily burden ourselves by expecting too : much. In short, by trying to impress others for praise, we get caught up trying to be someone we : aren’t and sometimes forfeiting everything we have to do so.

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