Baldassare Castiglione suggests that to be a great courtier “he must begin early and learn the principles from the best teachers (C242). He gives examples of certain people who have succeeded from the teachings of great masters. Alexander the son of King Philip of Macedon learned “the first elements of letters” (C242) from a knowledgeable philosopher named Aristotle. Also Galeazzo Sanseverino, Grand Equerry of France is able to perform “bodily exercises” is because “he has taken the greatest care to study with good masters” (C242). According to Castiglione once courtier have accomplish to “do things well, and [makes] every effort to resemble and if that is possible, to transform himself into his master” (C242). Then a courtier will be able to successful do his tasks.
Similarly to Castiglione suggestions the New York Times reports that parents are sending their kids to sports academies “before they can walk” (NY times). The idea behind is to develop an advantage in their kids ability to perform the principles of any kind of sports. Parents are also involved in their infants’ activities. For example they “do a lot of jumping, kicking and, in one exercise, something that looks like baseball batting practice” (NY Times). Parents are hoping that by starting their kids early in sports training they will become a future all-star. Both the NY Times article and the Book of Courtier emphasizes that in order to excel in any kind of situation one must start early and learn the rules and principles from the best available source.
