CASTIGLIONI, Baldassare

The Book pf Courtiers

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But before now often considered whence this grace springs, laying aside those men who have it by nature, I find one universal rule concerning it, which seems to me worth more in this matter than any other in all things human that are done or said: and that is to avoid affectation to the uttermost and as it were a very sharp and dangerous rock; and, to use possibly a new word, to practise in everything a certain nonchalance [sprezzatura] that shall conceal design and show that what is done and said is done without effort and almost without thought. From this I believe grace is in large measure derived, because everyone knows the difficulty of those things that are rare and done well, and therefore facility in them excites the highest admiration; while on the other hand, to stive and as the saying is to drag by the hair, is extremely ungraceful, and makes us esteem eveything slightly, however great it be.

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Therefore, I believe the ultimate goal of a perfect courtier—which hasn’t been mentioned until now—is to use the qualities these gentlemen have described to win the goodwill and favor of the prince he serves. By doing so, he can speak his mind openly and always inform the prince frankly of the truth about any matter he needs to understand, without fear or danger of displeasing him.

Furthermore, when the courtier sees that the prince is inclined to do something unseemly, he should have the boldness to oppose him. He must draw courage in an honorable way from the favor he has earned through his good qualities, using it to dissuade the prince from any bad intentions and guide him back to the path of virtue.

If the courtier possesses the goodness these gentlemen have attributed to him—along with a quick wit, charm, wisdom, education, and all his other skills—he will know how to act effectively in any situation. He will be able to make his prince understand exactly what honor and profit will come to him and his people through justice, generosity, courage, meekness, and the other virtues proper to a good ruler. Conversely, he will also show him the disgrace and damage that result from the opposite vices.

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