How some persons study the arts from nobleness of mind, and some for gain.Sidney Farnsworth places the last line of this quote at the beginning of his Illumination and its Development in the Present Day (New York: George H. Doran, 1922).
It is the impulse of a noble mind which moves some towards this art, pleasing to them through their natural love. The intellect delights in invention; and nature alone draws them, without any guidance from a master, through nobleness of mind; and thus delighting themselves, they next wish to find a master, and with him they place themselves in love of obedience, being in servitude that they may carry their art to perfection. There are some who follow the arts from poverty and necessity, also for gain, and for love of the art; but those who pursue them from love of the art and true nobleness of mind are to be commended above all others.
2 May 2014
Nobleness of Mind
Cennino Cennini (1370-1440), The Book of the Art of Cennino Cennini, tr. Christiana J. Herringham (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1922), p. 6:
