De modo legendi.
The Order of Learning
True learning begins with what is better known and more universal, using reason to divide carefully from the finite and comprehensive down to particular and hidden things.
The way of reading consists in dividing things up. Every division starts from finite things and proceeds all the way to infinite ones. But every finite thing is better known, and comprehensible through knowledge. Teaching starts from the things better known, and through their understanding reaches toward knowledge of the things that are hidden. Furthermore, it's by reason that we investigate — reason to which dividing properly belongs — when we descend from universals to particulars by dividing, and investigate the natures of individual things. For every universal is more determined by its particulars. So when we learn, we ought to start from the things that are better known, more determined, and more comprehensive, and so gradually work our way down, distinguishing individual things through division, in order to investigate the nature of the things they contain.
Read the original Latin
Modus legendi in dividendo constat. omnis divisio incipit a finitis, et ad infinita usque progreditur. omne autem finitum magis notum est et scientia comprehensibile. doctrina autem ab his quae magis nota sunt incipit, et per eorum notitiam ad scientiam eorum quae latent pertingit. praeterea ratione investigamus, ad quam proprie pertinet dividere, quando ab universalibus ad particularia descendimus dividendo et singulorum naturas investigando. omne namque universale magis est determinatum suis particularibus. quando ergo discimus, ab his incipere debemus quae magis sunt nota et determinata et complectentia, sicque paulatim descendendo, et per divisionem singula distinguendo, eorum quae continentur naturam investigare.
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