| Authorship Notes |
The text of 'De l'utilité des grands voyages' is presented as a letter to the French printer Antoine Vitré (1595-1674), and as a refutation of Vitré's critical comments on travel. Sorbière considers travel from several points of view, in order to determine under what conditions it can be useful. He is critical of quick and superficial travels. Indeed, he likens travel to reading: it cannot be performed well, quickly. He also suggests - in line with the neo-stoic tradition of 'prudentia' - that those who intend to hold pubic offices, and especially future princes, should travel abroad.
'De l'utilité des grands voyages' is Letter 83, and occurs at pp. 644-63. |
