Marius did to the Roman people, and say: They who make a
{11} display with the labours of others will not allow me mine? They
will say that being unskilled in letters I cannot find true expression
for the matters of which I desire to treat; they do not know that in my
subjects experience is a truer guide than the words of others, for
experience was the teacher of all great writers, and therefore I take
her for guide, and I will cite her in all cases.

25.

Although I may not be able to quote other authors, as they do, I can
quote from a greater and more worthy source, namely, experience,--the
teacher of their masters. They go about swelled with pride and
pomposity, dressed up and bedight, not with their own labour, but with
that of others; and they will not concede me mine. And if they despise
me, who am a creator, far more are they, who do not create but trumpet
abroad and exploit the works of other men, to be blamed.

[Sidenote: Authority]

26.

He who in reasoning cites authority is making use of his memory rather
than of his intellect.

[Sidenote: On Commentators]

27.

Men who are creators and interpreters of nature to man, in comparison
with boasters and exploiters of the works of others, must be judged
{12} and esteemed like the object before the mirror as compared with
its image reflected in the mirror.--one being something in itself, and
the other nothing. Little to nature do they owe, since it is merely by
chance they wear the human form, and but for it I might include them
with herds of cattle.

28.

A well lettered man is so because he is well natured, and just as the
cause is more admirable than the effect, so is a good disposition,
unlettered, more praiseworthy than a well lettered man who is without
natural disposition.

29.

Against certain commentators who disparage the inventors of antiquity,
the originators of science and grammar, and who attack the creators of
antiquity; and because they through laziness and the convenience of
books have not been able to create, they attack their masters with
false reasoning.

30.

It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.

[Sidenote: Experience]

31.

Wisdom is the daughter of experience.

[Sidenote: Experience never Errs]

32.

Wrongly men complain of experience, which {13} with great railing they
accuse of falsehood. Leave experience alone, and turn your lamentation
to your ignorance, which leads you, wi