Knowledge and Power

Scimus namque caelitus sanctae ecclesiae donatum, quotiens ipsi rerum domini discendae, docendae, custodiendae ueritati operam inpendunt. Nam et uere omnino dixit quidam saecularium scriptorum, quia felicissimo mundus statu ageretur, si uel reges philosopharentur, uel regnarent philosophi. Quod si de philosophia huius mundi uere intellegere, de statu huius mundi merito diligere potuit homo huius mundi; quanto magis ciuibus patriae caelestis in hoc mundo peregrinantibus optandum est, et totis animi uiribus supplicandum, ut, quo plus in mundo quique ualent, eo amplius eius, qui super omnia est, Iudicis mandatis auscultare contendant, atque ad haec obseruanda secum eos quoque, qui sibi commissi sunt, exemplis simul et auctoritate instituant?   Sancti Ceolfridi Epistula ad Naiton Regem Pictorum

We know that it is a heavenly gift to the Holy Church whenever the lords of the world are driven to learn and to teach and to guard the truth. For a certain writer of the past has most truly said that the state of the world would be made most happy if either kings philosophized or philosophers ruled. If it is possible that a man may truly understand the philosophy of this world and choose correctly concerning the state of this world, how much more must it be wished by the citizens of the heavenly fatherland travelling in this world, and indeed vigorously prayed for by all men, that the more powerful someone is in the world the more they should strive to attend to the commands of Him who is the Judge over all, and by example and authority teach those who are committed to them to observe the same, together with themselves. Letter of Saint Ceolfrid to Naiton King of the Picts