De simplicitate
The Royal Road of Simplicity
The author establishes simplicity as a foundational virtue for kings, supported by the examples of Job, Moses, and the wisdom of Scripture.
The virtue of prudence is certainly great, but it must be tempered by the virtue of simplicity. For this is how the Lord speaks in the Gospel: Be as prudent as serpents and as simple as doves. Walk on, then, most noble king, from virtue to virtue, and as you keep advancing toward what is better, don't turn aside from the royal road; instead, plant your step firmly as you move from prudence into simplicity.1 For simplicity is the royal road, and holy kings have loved it from of old. Indeed, the Lord gives praiseworthy witness about that praiseworthy man Job, saying to the devil: Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him on earth—a simple and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil? Of Moses, too, Scripture records: He was the gentlest of all the people who lived on earth. And the Book of Wisdom specifically calls out to kings and to the ministers of kings, saying: Love justice, you who judge the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart, for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test. More generally, though, and of all the saints, Solomon says in Proverbs: The simplicity of the just will guide them. Whoever walks simply will be saved.
Balancing Prudence and Purity
Prudence and simplicity must work in tandem to ensure the heart remains both sharp toward good and protected from the dullness of ignorance.
Paul, for his part, says: I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple in what is evil.✦ Prudence must continually sharpen the hearts of the elect toward what is good, and simplicity must be tempered by the keen edge of prudence, so that prudence doesn't overstep the bounds of uprightness, and simplicity doesn't grow dull through the deception of ignorance.
Walking Toward the Heavenly Kingdom
The king is exhorted to walk the royal road of simplicity to attain the rewards of eternal life and glory.
For simplicity is the royal road: it simply directs kings' steps so that, walking the royal paths, they may happily reach the heavenly kingdoms. Run, then, King, firmly along the paths of simplicity, so that you may reach everlasting life more quickly, soon receive the rewards of immortality, and be clothed in the robe of peace and glory.
Read the original Latin
Magna est quidem prudentiae virtus: sed necesse est ut simplicitatis virtute temperetur. Sic enim Dominus in Evangelio ait: Estote prudentes sicut serpentes et simplices sicut columbae. Ambula ergo, nobilissime rex, de virtute in virtutem, et jugiter proficiens in melius, ab itincre non declines regio; sed de prudentia in simplicitate firmiter pone gressum. Via enim regia est simplicitas, et a sanctis regibus antiquitus dilecta. Laudabile etenim de Job laudabili viro Dominus dat testimonium, dicens diabolo: Nunquid considerasti servum meum Job, quod non sit ei similis in terra, homo simplex et rectus ac timens Deum, et recedens a malo. De Moyse quoque Scriptura commemorat dicens: Erat mitissimus super omnes homines qui morabantur in terra. Specialiter namque liber Sapientiae regibus regumque ministris clamat et dicit: Diligite justitiam, qui judicatis terram, sentite de Domino in bonitate, et in simplicitate cordis quaerite illum, quoniam invenietur ab his qui non tentant illum. Generaliter autem et de omnibus sanctis Salomon in Proverbiis ait: Simplicitas justorum diriget eos: Qui ambulat simpliciter, salvus erit.
Paulus vero ait: Volo vos sapientes esse in bono, et simplices in malo. Debet etenim electorum corda prudentia in bonum jugiter acuere, et simplicitas ab acumine prudentiae temperari, ne aut prudentia modum rectitudinis excedat, aut simplicitas ignorantiae fallacia torpescat.
Regia etenim via est simplicitas, quae regum simpliciter dirigit gressus, ut ad coelestia, per regia gradientes itinera, feliciter perveniant regna. Curre ergo, rex, firmiter per simplicitatis itinera, ut ad perennem citius pervenias vitam, et immortalitatis cito accipias praemia, et stola induaris pacis et gloriae.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rom.16.19 — For your obedience has become known to everyone; therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source has itincre; translated as itinere (path/road), the only plausible reading in context with ab ... non declines and regio.
Via Regia (The Royal Road) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit