Prologus
The Duty of Warning
The author justifies his work of pointing out moral dangers as a necessary service for the safety of others.
Those who sail the sea are accustomed to show gratitude and give thanks to those by whose help they have escaped danger. Fires are lit, shouts are raised, and signals are set up so sailors can safely avoid the Scylla whirlpool, the Charybdis vortex, hidden rocks, and the reach and tenacity of the Syrtes. Likewise, those who warn of dangers threatening human safety are rightly owed gratitude for their service; and anyone who doesn't repay those who deserve it is ungrateful for the benefit and deserves to suffer the loss of his own safety. Yet everyone knows that human safety is hindered by vices, and it's in the public interest that these be pointed out out of love for our neighbors, so that they may be avoided. Human life is indeed stormier than any strait, and its dangers can't be avoided unless they are pointed out by their own signs. I am urged to this work of public utility by the prodding of your command, even though I recognize in myself nothing that would capture the attention of listeners—a man unprotected and diminished on every side, who lacks the life for conscience, the knowledge for teaching, and the works for an example, from which... Many people clamor for me to be silent, saying that the beautiful praise of virtue isn't even fitting in the mouth of a sinner. Only those to whom vices are pleasing, rushing toward death with no one to call them back, or those who are saved against their will, do this.
The Reader's Responsibility
The author invites the reader to judge the content of his work based on reason and authority rather than personal bias.
Those who love what is good don't pay attention to who is speaking, but to what is said; they weigh words by the reasons behind them and are grateful for whatever is said, wherever it comes from, if it helps them toward virtue. Therefore, a diligent reader shouldn't focus on the person, but on what is said and why; when they find something poorly stated, a sincere judge—unmoved by envy, hatred, or any other personal bias—shouldn't bear witness to the error, and where I have spoken well, they shouldn't strike me down. It matters little to me if I am unfairly criticized by perverse people whom I would rather see corrected, provided that I am still received by the favor of your kindness. Whatever I may suffer from those present, I hope—with God as my author and the love that urges me to write giving me confidence—that my work will not lack the grace of those who come after. After all, the judgments of those present often slip into one extreme or the other out of hatred or love. Indeed, I have intentionally included nothing in this work that isn't supported by reason or the authority of previous writings. In these matters, however, I will leave what should be followed to the reader's judgment, so that I may avoid the fault and the stigma of lying in my own name. But that’s enough for now.
The Epicurean Trap
The author transitions to his critique of those who live solely to satisfy their own will.
Now let's move into the camp of the Epicureans, and let what has been discovered there for certain be brought out into the open. For those who serve their own will in everything are known to belong, without a doubt, to that sect.
Read the original Latin
SoLENT qui mare enauigant illis habere gratiam et referre quorum beneficio pericula euaserunt. Accenduntur ignes, clamores excitantur, eriguntur et signa quibus Cillea uorago, turbo Caribdis, saxa latentia, tractus et tenacitas Sirtium a nauigantibus queant salubriter declinari. Sic et iis, qui ea imminere denuntiant quibus salus periclitatur humana, rectissime gratia debetur ex merito; et qui eam merentibus non rependit, ingratus beneficii dignus est salutis dispendium sustinere. Nemo autem est qui salutem uitiis nesciat impediri eaque ex amore proximorum notari ad fugam publice interest. Vita siquidem humana quouis freto procellosior est, nec possunt uitari discrimina nisi suis denuntientur indiciis. Ad hanc uero operam publicae utilitatis et tuae iussionis stimulis urgeor, licet in me nichil agnoscam quod attentionem prouocet auditorum, homo undique immunitus et imminutus, cui nec uita ad conscientiam nec ad doctrinam scientia nec opera suppetunt ad exemplum, unde in. me a plurimis conclamatur ut taceam, dicentibus quod nec etiam uirtutis speciosa laus est in ore peccatoris. Hoc ii soli faciunt quibus uitia placent, currentes in mortem nemine reuocante, aut qui saluantur inuiti.
Nam quibus bona placent, non a quo sed quid dicatur attendunt et, ex causis dicendi dicta pensantes, gratum habent quicquid undecumque elicitum proficit ad uirtutem. Non ergo quis sed quid quaue de causa scribam diligens lector attendat et, ubi male dicta inuenerit, sincerus iudex et nec inuidiae nec odii nec alterius afiectionis motu concussus testimonium de malo perhibeat et, ubi bene dixero, non me caedat. Michi tamen pro minimo est si innocentiae meae gratis detrahitur a peruersis quos emendari uellem, si me tamen benignitatis tuae fauor exceperit. Quicquid autem a praesentibus patiar, spero, auctore Deo et caritate, qua urgeor ad scribendum, michi praestante fiduciam, quod labori meo gratia non deerit posterorum. Odio siquidem uel amore in partem altenitram praesentium plerumque iudicia prolabuntur. Nichil equidem praesenti operi ex proposito inseretur quod non a sit ratione uel praecedentium scriptorum auctoritate subnixum. In quibus tamen quid sequendum sit lectoris relinquetur arbitrio, ut procul a nomine meo faciam uitium et notam mentiendi. Sed haec hactenus.
Nunc transeamus in Epicureorum castra, et quod ibi pro certo fuerit exploratum in medium proferatur. Nam ad eorum sectam indubitanter pertinere noscuntur qui in omnibus propriae seruiunt uoluntati.
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