De parcitate.
The Call to Frugality
Hugh urges his readers toward poverty and frugality, warning that bodily indulgence dulls the mind.
He also wanted to urge poverty on his readers, that is, not to chase after superfluous things, which pertains especially to discipline. For, as the saying goes, a fat belly doesn't produce a keen mind.
The Vanity of Students
Contemporary students are rebuked for despising frugality and boasting in wealth rather than learning.
But what will the students of our time be able to answer to these things, who not only despise following frugality in their studies, but even strive to appear richer than they are? And now each one no longer boasts about what they've learned, but about what they've spent.
The Humility of Teachers
Students refuse to imitate their teachers, whom Hugh hesitates to describe, acknowledging the inadequacy of his own words.
But perhaps it's because they're unwilling to imitate their teachers, about whom — and I'll say this as well as I can — I don't find anything fitting enough to say.
Read the original Latin
Paupertatem quoque lectoribus suadere voluit, id est, superflua non sectari, quod maxime ad disciplinam spectat. Pinguis enim venter, ut dicitur, tenuem non gignit sensum. sed quid ad haec scholares nostri temporis respondere poterunt, qui non solum in studiis suis frugalitatem sequi contemnunt, sed etiam supra id quod sunt divites videri laborant? nec iam quid didicerit quisque iactitat, sed quid expenderit. sed fortassis quia magistros suos imitari nolunt, de quibus, quid satis digne dicam, non invenio.
Didascalicon de Studio Legendi (On the Study of Reading) companion
Hugh said begin with small daily portions. Start tomorrow.
Chosen Portion serves one short, ordered devotional reading each day — the medieval lectio pattern, free on iOS.
Hugh taught that formation comes from ordered, incremental daily reading, and Chosen Portion is that ordered daily portion delivered to your phone.
- A curated daily portion in 2-3 minutes, no decision fatigue about what to read
- Progress through complete historic works in order, the way Hugh prescribed
- Free app plus a weekly email unpacking one reading in depth