World Civilization
1550 to the present
World Civilization Interactive Journey
HIST 4130/5130
The Middle Ages
HIST 4950/5950
Medieval Monasticism
HIST 4140/5140
Renaissance and
Reformation
HIST 4280/5280:
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
to 1500 C.E.
HIST 4285/5285:
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
since 1500 C.E.
IDST 2310:
The Fine and
Applied Arts
in Civilization
Databases, Bibliographies,
and other WWW
Research Resources
Georgia College &
State University
Famous Quotations on the
Renaissance and Reformation
- Jacob Burckhardt (19th century) on the Renaissance:
- In the Middle Ages, both sides of human consciousness -- that which was turned within as well as that which was turned without -- lay dreaming or half awake beneath a common veil. The veil was woven of faith, illusion, and childish prepossession, through which the world and history were seen clad in strange hues. Man was conscious of himself only as a member of a race, people, party,family or corporation -- only through some general category. In Italy this veil first melted into air; an objective treatment and consideration of the State and of all things of this world became possible. The subjective side at the same time asserted itself with corresponding emphasis; man became a spiritual individual, and recognized himself as such ... It will not be difficult to say that this result was due above all to the political circumstances of Italy.
Jacob Burckhardt The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy
- Machiavelli on politics:
- It is better to be feared than loved.
- The ends justify the means.
- A prince is forced to know how to act like a beast ... A prince need not necessarily have all the good qualities, but he should certainly appear to have them.
- Machiavelli, The Prince
- Erasmus on medieval religion:
- Those that commonly call themselves the religious and the monks, most false in both titles, when both a great part of them are farthest from religion, and no men swarm thicker in all places than themselves . . . some are Minors, some Minims, some Crossed; and again, these are Benedictines, those Bernardines; these Carmelites, those Augustines; these Williamites, and those Jacobines; as if they were not worth the while to be called Christians.
- Erasmus, Praise of Folly
- Luther on Catholicism:
- The Mass is the greatest blasphemy of God, and the highest idolatry upon earth, an abomination the like of which has never been in Christendom since the time of the Apostles.
- Table Talk, 171.
- Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.
- attributed remark, Diet of Worms.
- Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not - - struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
- Table Talk, 353.