Centellas 412 - 416
412. Since the tongue has lately become looser and lighter than thought, sharper than the blade of a knife and given to slicing into the lives of others, there is hardly a human deed that can escape its wounds. Thus, one must live in the world aware of this pretext.
413. Let the world, then, go on as it will; let time alter and stir up customs; let everyone follow slavishly after their whims; let some ascend and others fall; for since life is so short and death common to everyone, all the things we see are of little import.
414. Often, well-ordered resolutions are made which, due to a lack of order in carrying them out, result in new and tremendous examples of disorder. Thus when giving counsel it is not sufficient simply to deliberate prudently, for it is even more important to know how to choose wisely those who will carry out the matter under deliberation.
415. It seems to me that in no other matter should Princes take greater care than in the choice of counsellors, because errors are born of ignorant advisors, evils of malicious advisors, and both kinds result in the perdition of republics.
416. For the acquittal of judges, for the punishment of lawyers and prosecutors, and for the benefit of litigants, it would be good if a Council was formed in every province in order to resolve and bring harmony to civil differences, and nobody would be allowed to initiate a new suit who had not first passed through the melting pot of concord in order to prevent in this way the loss of estates, since we see clearly that endless delays in lawsuits bring about greater harm than favorable sentences bring about advantages.
Medio Maravedí is a copublication of
the Universitat de les Illes Balears
and José J. de Olañeta, Editor.
|
