The Rule of Cosimo d'Medici

Author Bio: Vespasiano was an Italian Humanist and Librarian. He was a dealer in books, and was a well known helping hand in the creation of many famous libraries at the time. He guided Cosimo d'Medici with creating the Laurentian Library. He always helped with distributing the works of classical authors in the Vatican Library. 

Speaker: See Above.

Date/Context: "The Rule of Cosimo d'Medici" focuses on the famous man of Florence, Cosimo d'Medici. Florence is known as the best representation for the Renaissance. Home to many famous scientists, artists, and literary figures, Florence was ruled by one family; Medici. This family would not have achieved such high status, if it had not been for Cosimo d'Medici. With his skills and personality, his family became the bankers of the papacy. 

Summary: At a party, you would most likely catch Cosimo d'Medici talking to other men of very high status. He liked men who knew how to invest in themselves, and never associated with frivolous ones. Cosimo usually discussed important topics; and his high station came from his many "praiseworthy" qualities. Medici could be considered sly, but in a good way. He did not like to cause much attention to himself. If he wanted something, he would go about obtaining it in a way that almost seemed as if it were supposed to happen, through the actions of someone else. His personality is one of the reasons he was very meritorious. Medici was a very patient and kind man who never bad mouthed anyone; he would be angered by those that slandered others. Cosimo could also be considered a "Jack of all trades". He could express his lover for literature with a man of letter, and religion with a theologian. Cosimo di Giovanni d'Medici was a praiseworthy individual, that many people admired. 

Key Quotations:

• "Cosimo di Giovanni d'Medici was of most honorable descent, a very prominent citizen and one of great weight in the republic."
• "So great was his knowledge of all things, that he could find some matter of discussion with men of all sorts.."
• "I once heard Cosimo say that they great mistake of his life was that he did not begin to spend his wealth ten years earlier; because knowing well the disposition of his fellow-citizens, he was sure that, in the lapse of fifty years, no memory would remain of his personality or of his house save the few fabrics he might have built."
• "I know that after my death my children will be in worse case than those of any other Florentine who has died for many years past."