Prologus
The Pursuit of Truth and Liberty
True wisdom and the ability to speak truth are found only in the liberty of the Holy Spirit, which frees the soul from the yoke of injustice.
The profession of truth is a difficult matter, and one that is very often corrupted by the encroaching darkness of error or by the negligence of the one who professes it. After all, who can rightly examine what is true when the facts are unknown? Yet knowledge of things, because it does not direct the paths of those who despise justice, only sharpens the stings of justice to the punishment of the offender. The first step of philosophy, therefore, is to discuss the kinds and properties of things so that one can prudently recognize what is true in each; the second is that everyone should faithfully pursue the truth that has shone upon them. However, this path of the philosophers is accessible only to the one who proclaims freedom from the kingdom of vanity, into the liberty by which those whom the truth has set free become free, and who, serving the Spirit, have withdrawn their necks from the yoke of iniquity and injustice. For where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty; and servile fear, which consents to vices, is the destroyer of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it is the Spirit who speaks equity in the presence of princes without shame, who prefers or equates the poor in spirit with kings, and who teaches those He has made to cling to Him how to know, speak, and do the truth. But anyone who doesn't wish to hear or speak the truth is a stranger to the Spirit of truth.
Transition to the Prince
The author concludes his introductory reflections to begin the specific examination of the nature of the prince and the tyrant.
But that's enough for now. Now, let's hear how a tyrant differs from a prince.
Read the original Latin
a Ardua quidem res est professio ueritatis et quae incursantibus errorum tenebris aut negligentia profitentis frequentissime uitiatur. Quid enim uerum sit quis recte examinat rebus incognitis? Notitia autem rerum, eo quod uias non dirigit contemptoris, iustitiae aculeos exacerbat in penam delinquentis. Est ergo primus philosophandi gradus, genera rerum proprietatesque discutere, ut quid in singulis uerum sit, prudenter agnoscat; secundus, ut quisque id ueritatis, quod ei illuxerit, fideliter assequatur. Haec autem philosophantium strata illi soli peruia est, qui de regno uanitatis proclamat in libertatem qua liberi fiunt quos ueritas liberauit, et Spiritui seruientes colla iugo iniquitatis et iniustitiae subduxerunt. Vbi enim Spiritus Dei, ibi libertas; metusque seruilis uitiisque consentiens exterminator Spiritus sancti est. Porro Spiritus est qui loquitur aequitatem in conspectu principum nec erubescit, et pauperes spiritu regibus anteponit aut aequat, et quos sibi fecerit coherere, docet scire loqui et facere ueritatem. Qui uero ueritatem non uult audire uel loqui, a Spiritu ueritatis alienus est.
Sed haec hactenus. Nunc in quo tirannus distat a principe audiamus.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study