Petrarch opted out of studying law in order to devote his life to literature. Written text itself was epitomized in classical Latin literature and he believed that the prose of Cicero was the ultimate model. ... The rhetoric of Latin figures, such as Cicero and Seneca, encouraged good will, and Petrarch himself opposed Aristotle, claiming "he would rather will the good than know the truth, which in any case is unknowable " ("Humanism: Italy" 1). ... By "putting the good of the state above all preconceived systems of morality "a prince can sustain his rule" (Kekewich 234). ... As a result, hu...

• Word Count: 2321
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Petrarch began to research earlier writers, for example, Cicero. ... Petrarch wrote lyric poetry dealing with individuals; he wanted to share knowledge for the public good. This was certainly a newer way of life. ... He was a life long friend of Petrarch. ... The Decameron was about life in Italy during the plague. ...

• Word Count: 656
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

It is a blend of concern for the history and actions of human beings, mainly the ancient Greeks and Romans, such as, Cicero, Ceaser, and Augustine, with the belief that man was at the center of the universe. ... Christian humanism came to mean individualism and the value of life in the present. ... This was one of the decisive steps away from the church and towards a humanistic approach to life. ... Based on his studies of Cicero, Petrarch believed that there had to be more to virtue than religion. ... In His book, De Remediis Utriusque Fortunae (On the Remedies for Good and Bad Fortune...

• Word Count: 2254
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

A little competition can be good though. ... However, the Latin writings could only be the classical Latin of Cicero and Virgil, not the changing Latin of the churches. ... With time, comes good things. ... New ideas, new ways of life, new ways of expressing ones self all emerged during this time. Without the Renaissance it is safe to say that many of our own ideas, ways of life, and art forms would not exist today....

• Word Count: 1065
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School