Biography

The Life Of Father António Vieira

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

One of the most compelling figures of Portuguese history–and surely one of the greatest practitioners of its prose–was Father António Vieira, a Jesuit missionary, orator, statesman, writer, and mystic.  His career illustrates that stimulating mixture of conservative and progressive thinking that would come to characterize the Jesuit order throughout much of its history.  He was born in Lisbon in 1608 and moved to Brazil (what is now the state of Bahia) in 1614 when his father received an appointment for a government post there.

Continue reading →

An Epitaph For Fidel Castro: The Failure Of Self-Mastery

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

fidel1

He was from youth a strong-willed and charismatic man, certain of the correctness of his ideas and the importance of his mission. It is probably true that in the beginning he genuinely wanted the best for his country, and he was possessed of a burning desire to right the wrongs he saw all around him. Cuba under his predecessors was little more than a huge plantation, exploited at will by corrupt elites and foreign powers.  His certitude gave him a charisma which the credulity of the commons mistook for leadership.

Continue reading →

The Inscrutable St. Patrick

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

pat

The first modern, comprehensive biography of St. Patrick was written by the scholar J.B. Bury, who was a professor of history at Cambridge University for many years.  As usual in a work by this great author, it is thoroughly sourced and documented, and yet retains a readability and freshness that makes it timeless.  He relates this fable that supposedly happened during the foundation of Armagh in A.D. 444.

Continue reading →

Pure Talent Is Never Enough: The Case Against Leonardo Da Vinci

Quintus Curtius Biography, Thought , ,

vinci2

Everyone thinks of Leonardo da Vinci as the paragon of Renaissance virtue.  He could paint, design, and use intuition as an aid to creativity, when he felt like doing so.  But a closer look at the record paints a picture of a chronic procrastinator, a man of dubious reliability, and an idler who was more preoccupied with his daydreams than with perfecting his craft.  He had genius, of course.  But that is never enough.  Harness, discipline, and application are far more important.

Continue reading →

Jan Scruggs And The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

Quintus Curtius Biography, Thought , ,

I was recently watching the film Maya Lin:  A Strong Clear Vision.  It is a 1994 documentary about the architectural work of Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C.  One of the key figures interviewed in the film was an honest-faced, frank man named Jan Scruggs.

Continue reading →

Xenophon On Cyrus’s Leadership Qualities

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

lead2

Xenophon’s Anabasis is one of the primary classics of ancient Greek literature.  For students of ancient Greek, it has served much the same function as has Caesar’s De Bello Gallico has for Latin; that is, it has been used as a foundational text in the study of the language.

Continue reading →

Why You Should Follow Your Passions: The Example Of Michael Punke

Quintus Curtius Biography ,

hiker

Some time ago I wrote a review of a film I admired very much, The Revenant.  I’ve recently learned more about the author of the book on which the movie was based.  His name is Michael Punke, and his story provides a good example of why you should stick to your guns and pursue your passions.  Success may take a long time, but it will come.

Continue reading →

Candido Rondon: Brazil’s Greatest Explorer

Quintus Curtius Biography, Travel & Exploration , ,

river2

In the annals of American exploration, few names are as distinguished, and perhaps as little known, as that of Marshal Cândido Rondon.  As an officer in the Brazilian Army in the late 19th and early 20th century, he revealed more of the Amazonian basin to the world than any single other figure.  His incredible toughness, personal background, unorthodox philosophy, and leadership skills make him a unique and startling figure.

Continue reading →

No Rest For The Wicked

Quintus Curtius Biography, Thought , ,

art2

Boccaccio’s On Famous Women is one of those good books that no one has ever heard of.  It is a collection of short essays on some notable women of history, and the author includes characters both good and bad.  Queens, schemers, seducers, prostitutes, patriots, and rebels all have a place here.

I find these old, forgotten Renaissance works highly enjoyable and instructive, precisely for the reasons that some people do not.  Some people do not like the moralistic, judgmental tone of these old works.  But it is refreshing.  It is good sometimes to judge, and to be judged.

Continue reading →

Every Man Needs His Quest

Quintus Curtius Biography, Travel & Exploration , ,

quest1

I have a lot of familiarity with the old mythologies.  I love the old stories of the classical Greek and Roman myths.  Even the old Norse mythology has its place, although it is so much darker.  Darker, and more ominous.

Continue reading →