byNiccolò Machiavelli
AndsenttohisfriendsZANOBIBUONDELMONTIAndLUIGIALAMANNICASTRUCCIOCASTRACANI(1284-1328)
Itappears, dearestZanobiandLuigi, awonderfulthingtothosewhohaveconsideredthematter, thatallmen, orthelargernumberofthem, whohaveperformedgreatdeedsintheworld, andexcelledallothersintheirday, havehadtheirbirthandbeginninginbasenessandobscurity; , , and, assuchtaleswouldnotbeparticularlyedifyingtothosewhoreadthem, , becauseshebeginstoshowherhandwhenwisdomcanreallytakenopartintheircareer: , ifheismeasuredbythetimesinwhichhelivedandthecityinwhichhewasborn; but, likemanyothers, hewasneitherfortunatenordistinguishedinhisbirth, , , becauseyouofallmenIknowdelightmostinnobledeeds.
