The aim of noble minds...

...Training the character once more became, in classical fashion, the guiding imperative of education, but now with w twist: union with God was not replaced, but enhanced, by the classical ideals of virtus et fama, virtue and fame. The gentleman who had learned the lessons--moral and stylistic-- that the ancient world had to teach could build upon that capital, not as a huckster hawking his wares, but as an enlightened follower, a knight errant in quest of a lost world...Once more, not originality, but mastery of formal, set tasks was the aim of noble minds. Educated men were known by their ability not only to do the right things, but also to say the right things in the right way. New rules reigned over the court of play. The dimensions had been measured out, the lines chalked, the net raised; it remained to the student to perfect his moves.
~T. L. Simmons, Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin, p.93