Book
Descrierea Moldovei
by Dimitrie Cantemir · 1716 · 1 reading card · public domain
1 card
Descrierea Moldovei · 1716
Active hostility towards education becomes a structural obstacle to a society's development.
Cantemir makes a harsh observation about the cultural state of his time: the Moldavian elite preferred offices and wealth over study. 'Hate' is a strong word, suggesting active hostility toward books and science. For instance, when Cantemir tried to open an academic school in Iași, he faced opposition and indifference from the boyars.
“The Moldavians are not merely no lovers of learning: they hate it.”