Qiiod sine prudentia et sollicitudine nullus magi
The Necessity of Prudence in Governance
A stable state requires a vigilant head who exercises prudence and concern, much like the queen bee in the hive.
A state remains secure, and no public life flourishes, whose head is failing. Even venerable places, if they follow the example of the bees, move toward life in the most direct and efficient way. Look to Virgil for the foundations of Carthage, and by comparing them, you'll be able to admire the omens of a blessed city. You'll recognize the common labor of all, and that no one is idle—not even the queen herself, by whose help the city's structure rises. Even if she doesn't involve her own hands in the labor of the workers, she still keeps her eyes on the work and exercises the concern of her whole mind. For without prudence and concern, not only does public life fail to progress, but even the smallest household cannot stand. Hence, in his praise of Ulysses, Homer teaches that prudence was always his companion, which he called Minerva in poetic style. Virgil, too, as an imitator of that same poet, described a man distinguished by arms and piety—whom he deemed worthy to be the father of the Romans—and joined Achates to him in all right-doing. This is because the concern of prudence promotes what must be done most correctly; for a circumspect man, affairs often proceed in such a way that he isn't hindered by the tricks of those lying in wait, and the path of his actions, like an invisible way, reaches the intended goal without being made public. It's elegantly put, for neither military matters nor the work of piety can be carried out without concern and prudence.
Diligence and the Wisdom of the Hive
Diligence must be paired with wisdom to ensure a community thrives, using the bee as a model of collective labor and order.
A partnership is truly reliable when diligence is joined with prudence, because a sharp mind is dulled by idleness, and diligence itself accomplishes nothing unless it rests on the foundation of a rich vein of wisdom. In this way, one thing asks for the help of another, and they join together in friendship. But no matter how right the beginnings of any undertaking may be, they won't succeed if wisdom is absent. Let the Mantuan poet guide you, for he expresses the truth of all philosophy under the guise of fables. Consider, then, the diligence of these new citizens: think of the work that bees perform under the sun in the early summer, as they lead out the grown young of their kind, or as they pack the liquid honey and stretch the cells with sweet nectar, or as they receive the burdens of those returning, or as they form a line to drive the lazy herd of drones from their hives; the work is in full swing, and the fragrant honey smells of thyme. In this way, the citizens are occupied with various tasks, and while the duties of each are performed so that the whole community is provided for, and while justice is observed, a honeyed sweetness permeates the lives of all. However, no political state can enjoy lasting happiness unless its head remains sound and looks out for the whole. If you didn't know this, let the example of Dido teach you.
The Peril of Undiscerning Hospitality
The example of Dido serves as a cautionary tale against the lack of discernment in admitting strangers and the dangers of effeminate luxury.
For with what lightness is Aeneas admitted, and how quickly does an unknown man, an exile, a fugitive—whose cause is unknown and whose person is suspect—find favor! With what curiosity are the fabulous tales of a man who clears himself of blame, seeks his own glory, and hunts for ways to subvert the minds of his listeners, received by the ears of princes! Smooth words therefore precede a man's entry; the allure of praise wins the favor of hospitality; a carefully arranged banquet demonstrates everyone's eagerness; stories follow the banquet; and the lightness of hunting and manifold luxury follows along. These things give birth to incest and fire, and they prolong the desolation of citizens and the causes of perpetual hostility. This is the end of a feminine and effeminate kingdom which, even if it had a foundation of virtue, could find no way forward once prosperity arrived. He was admitted too lightly; while duty might have required he be welcomed as a guest, he should have been treated as a stranger rather than a judge.
Read the original Latin
stratus subsistit incolumis, nec uiget res puhlica cuius caput injimiatur. Loca quoque uenerabilia, si apum insistant uestigiis, uia eompendiosissima et expedita proficiscuntur ad uitam. Vide apud Maronem fundamenta Cartaginis et earum collatione beatae urbis auspicia poteris admirari. Omnium namque laborem communem agnosces et neminem otiari a ipsamque reginam cuius ope ciuitatis structura consurgit; et, si labori inferiorum manus suas nequaquam immisceat, oculos tamen impendit operi et totius mentis exercet soUicitudinem. Nam sine prudentia et sollicitudine non modo res publica non procedit sed nec minima consistit domus. Vnde in commendatione Vlixis Homerus ei comitem docet semper prudentiam afiuisse, quam ritu poetico Mineruam nuncupauit. Imitator quoque illius Maro, uirum insignem armis et pietate describens et quem dignum censuit ut patrem faceret Romanorum, ei in recte gerendis omnibus Acatem sociauit, eo quod sollicitudo prudentiae quae gerenda sunt rectissime promouet, et uiro circumspecto sic negotia saepe procedunt ut nullis insidiantium dolis praepediatur et quasi inuisibilis uia gerendorum non publicata ad finem intentionis perueniat destinatum. Eleganter equidem, cum nec res militaris nec pietatis opus sine soUicitudine et prudentia ualeat exerceri.
Fidelis utique contractus est cum soUicitudo prudentiae sociatur, quia et ingenium perspicax retunditur otio, et sollicitudo non proficit nisi diuitis uenae fimdamento nitatur. Alterius sic altera poscit opem res et coniurat amice. Sed cuiusKbet rei quantumlibet recta initia non procedunt Minerua recedente. Procedat tibi poeta Mantuanus, qui sub imagine fabularum totius philosophiae exprimit ueritatem. Attende ergo nouorum ciuium diligentiam: Qualis apes estate noua per florea rura exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos educunt fetus, aut cum liquentia mella stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas, aut onera accipiunt uenientum, aut agmine facto ignauum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent; feruet opus, redolentque thimo fragrantia mella. Ita uariis tenentur occupationibus ciues et dum sic coluntur officia singulorum ut uniuersitati prospiciatur, dum iustitia colitur,fines omnium mellea dulcedo perfundit. Verumtamen nullius rei politicae est diutuma felicitas, nisi uniuersitati prospiciat caput incolume. Quod, si non noueras, uel Didonis docearis exemplo.
Quanta enim leuitate Eneas admittitur, quantam cito inuenit gratiam homo ignotus, exul, fugitiuus, cuius causa ignota est, persona suspecta Quanta curiositate exceptae sunt ab auribus principum fabulosae narrationes hominis suam euacuantis culpam, propriam quaerentis gloriam, et id captantis unde posset auditorum subuertere mentes "? Praecedunt ergo ad introitum hominis sermones blandi, illecebrae laudum conciliant hospitii gratiam, conuiuium accuratius instruit omnium captata sedulitas, fabulae sequuntur couuiuia, uenandi multiplicisque luxuriae leuitas comitatur. Incestum pariunt haec, incendium desolationem ciuium et perpetuae hostilitatis prorogant causas. Hic finis feminei et effeminati regni quod, licet uirtutis habuerit fundamentum, succedentibus prosperis minime potuit inuenire processum. a Leuiter admissus est qui, ( uamuis ex pietatis officio ut hospes non fuerat excludendus, opportunius tamen fuerat eum ut aduenam, non quasi iudicem introire.
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
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