Assassins Creed 2 - Ezio's Speech
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2024
- Freedom my friends. Freedom before all else. When everything fails, when hope falters, when the world burns, when we all fall, I hope we do so as free men. As enlightened beings of this planet. Let us not just blindly walk out of this world none the wiser or richer then we were born. Let's change it for the better, while we still draw breath.
I'm so glad that a series like AssCreed takes up such an important philosophical issue. Many underestimate games, see them as some sort of degenerative medium. Not to many grasp or acknowledge what they're able to do if done properly.
Oh and great speech by the way. Basically the way I've been taught to live my life. It's nice to see that I'm not the only fucker in the world who thinks like that.
Soundtrack: Assassin's Creed 2 OST - Salvation of Forlì
![Ezio Auditore Meets Altair Ibn La Ahad [Full Scene]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hw86GANf8mw/mqdefault.jpg)
![[DRIP] ‘Love, Maybe’ PREVIEW](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U7hwHp95m1k/mqdefault.jpg)
I was about to say "Ezio for President" but then I realized that's exactly what he doesn't want
lol
Those who do not seek or want power, is often the ones most suited to have it.
Ankoo it's also often why they never get it leaving us with shits that don't deserve it
Shelby Rose Ezio for unofficial mascot. Do you think he would approve of that?
Tövbe estağfurullah Rose
"There is no book [...] to give you the answers."
*spent last decade collecting lost Codex pages*
lmao, well I guess the Codex pages were just one source of knowledge, one which you choose to take into account or not, so even then, it's up to yourself to choose whether that book is the answer.
there is no book or teacher to give you the answer
The codex were to show all the grand temples
He was telling us that there is no book or teacher to tell us what path we take.
And that we have the ability to take and choose our own path.
Dragon Lord Frost Scythe
finally someone gets it
Ezio's transformation from a brash, immature youth to a charismatic but wise old man is one of the best character arcs in gaming.
I'd say Edward turn from a greedy man to a man fighting for a cause in ac 4 and Arthur Morgan's redemption are up there as well
@@canadianidiot1220yes big time
minus the smell of a fucking burning corpse right in front of him
@@canadianidiot1220ezio is better tho lol
one of the best character arcs period.
"No one deserves to die in such pain."
*stabs in face*
cuase he coultend feel it for fast but burning is paintful and long death its faster to get him stab so he showen mercy and ''saved'' him
Painful of course , but a lot less than being burned alive.
He could have saved him
With all the horrors that he had committed ? He was better off dead.
Fawulf Elendnor but burning is worse
"There is no book or teacher to give you the answers."
Claudia (for 22 years): "You here to look at the book? A presto, Ezio!"
+Darius Mistry indeed
+Darius Mistry It took him 22 years to realize that. Man, for a Master Assassin, Ezio does tend to be stupid. :P
+Hiya H when did he realized this?
hahahahahhahahahha you made my day xD
Lmao
The best character that ever existed
Sunny Price in games for sure
***** I wouldn't say suck ass, Connor is more objective driven, all work no play and no charisma, Ed was ok and Arno sems fine, but Ezio is the best
+JourneyML1 Connor is not garbage
+Sunny Price Arno is garbage
Sunny Price true arno is garbage
i used this for my monologue i had to present to my drama class in 8th grade...i got an A
NightBladeplays really
😁
I'm surprised you didn't get called out for plagiarizing.
That counts as plagiarizing, right?
HAHA NICE!
STFU BITCH
Ezio would like to have a word with Haytham Kenway.
A rap battle xD
That's a conversation I'm interested in
AND Shay Patrick Cormac Sir
Yeah haytham was the oposite of ezio.
@@blipblop2473 Shay believes in similar ideals to Ezio, he just had to stop the Assassins from destroying the Trees of Eden.
That's why ezio is the best assassin ever..
Its not about who is better or best. In fact there is no best or better. Try to understand the meaning of this words more deeply. We were born free but too many of us dont die free.
the problem is that Ezio fought with villains that were completely evil, who lived only for their own greed. Cesare and his lapdogs, Rodrigo with his god complex. It was easy to say that these guys have to be dealt with.
Since Connor situation has become more difficult as both Templars and assassins have become more obsessive with their goal. Each side was morally gray.
well for me edwards story ended to quick he had the potential to grow even further into the fans hearts imagine if ezios story ended with AC2 i would still love that character but he would feel unfinished and same goes for edward his character developed so much since you first meet him and i could imagine that it would go even further than that but i can also understand why they didnt do it couse his story would be way to similar to the one of ezio the hot headed naive charismatic ''child'' that slowly starts to understand that his actions have consequences and who learns how the world really goes and that he cant only live for the day who turns into a wiser and older version that starts to see things in a different light. if i had to take a guess about how edward would be in a second game i would say he would be like ezio in revelations
Loc K Pfttt Connor has personality of my bathroom.
@@GoryTiger You must have one exciting Bathroom.
Oh those times, when video games were a true piece of art untouched by the greedy hearts of the developers.
Mateo Pereyra publishers you mean
You mean companies
Did you forgot about God of War (2018)? Red Dead Redemption 2? Horizon Zero Dawn? Uncharted 4? Breath of the Wild? Mario Odyssey? Grand Theft Auto V? The Last Of Us (and most probably TLOU2)? Hell even the new AC games are amazing
Gaming is not going to shit it’s as amazing, maybe even better than it ever was
Just because there’s not as many massive games being hugely popular doesn’t mean they don’t exist
Almost all the games you mentioned have shitty business models... @@onespicysauce6599
@@onespicysauce6599 Don't forget Witcher 3
"There is no book or teacher to give you the answers. To show you the path. Choose your own way, do not follow me, or anyone else." So many in these comments are talking about Ezio telling people not to follow the Bible or whatever. That's not what he's saying. He is saying that you are you, and you need to accept that. Figure things out on your own. Do what you want, what makes you proud of who you are. It's easy. There is no mockery of any Holy Book. It's about finding your own path. No matter what that is.
Someone with a brain!
James Scott
The sad part is, people become lost and their very perception of the path, the truth, is bent. So sometimes, as Ezio has said, it takes some group of strangers called "friends" to guide you along the way.
James Scott it's not mocking the bible directly, but the Truth it's just one, and the bible represents the Truth. Another thing, i played almost all games, and the gameplay is very good, but this franchise is awfully relativist, really it's just horrible to see they talking, and one contradiction after another. really, i wouldn't complain of it when i was an atheist. But now that i have studied a little about philosofy and metaphysics, it's just sad to watch it, it is so ilogical that after you study this things you will want to laugh about these speeches. Another thing, why they wan't to use catholic symbols to represent evil? Even if it's obvious that the holy inquisition didn't do anything that they say it did. so many lies about religion. when i was young i fell too for these horrible lies. but no one Dares to say nothing about islan OH NO, It's just about the Holy Church, who don't do nothing wrong and gets wrongly accused by things it never did. the modern people are always trying to be diferent, but in the end they are all the same. The modernismo is a type of paganismo to the hedonism, only self pleasure, no sacrifice. i could go all night writing this down, but i will end here.
James Scott Exactly!!! He doesn't mock the Bible directly, but the authority of a book of any kind(whether that's scientific, religious or not, that's why he mentions teachers as well). He mainly says ''Do not try and expect other things to tell you what is ''absolutely'' true and what is not, besides yourself, search the truth inside you, interpret things with your judgment and with the personality you have, it's not these things that tell you what is truth and what is not, it's your interpretations of reality, hence yourself''.....
Enlightenment thinker before it was cool
This is what the newer games are missing. The true heart of the Assassins creed series , The hearts of men.
In the end it wasnt about saving the world , or about who was good or bad. Throughout most of the games Ezio was just as flawed as the templars if not moreso. Watching him realize this and then grow into what he would become is what made the ezio trilogy a truly epic journey.
Ubisoft: ...but money
@@priceless2353 tru thank god I don’t waste my money on packs
What flaws does Ezio have in this game he is made to be seen as perfect he is the prophet and even invents the Latte
@@priceless2353 this whole sequence was DLC
Exactly.In Origins or Odysee the bad guys are cartoonishly evil.The Templars in the earlier games were more grey.You could understand and even agree with some of their goals(Especially Haytham in 3) but the villains in the newer games are just plain evil.
5 years ago, i watched patrice desilets leave ubisoft, betrayed by those who i called developers. vengeance clouded by mind. it would have consumed me, if not for the ship battles in ac black flag
lol
Is it bad I never rly liked the ship battles?
Ryan Brady yes no
Agreed. Black Flag may not be fitting as an Assassin's Creed game, but it was darn good.
The battles were cool. But sometimes you just wanna go to some place to another and have to fight endless ships all the way..and the more you fought the more you become wanted, and more ships come to battle you..
People would initially think Ezio's father would be proud when he avenged him and his brothers deaths. I think his father would be proud of the man he became, he followed and served and his father's legacy. And he lived it well.
People could call me crazy but I honestly have learnt a lot from Assassins Creed. That is, the good old series.
It actually made me to think deeper. They say video games make you violent. I've learnt a lot through Assassin's Creed. I am soaked with every speech, every line spoken in the series. We are soaked with the beautiful story, wisdom and ideas handled by the series. I've learnt a lot and I thank the very game series I love.
Vittoria agli Assassini!
Yo buddy, still alive?
Same im gonna be honest i learned more history thanks to those games than my country. Even last year i failed history class
@@five2019 History classes are full biased bs anyways. Critical thinking is what people should learn these days.
Facts bro
IMO I think Assassin Creed Syndicate did glorify crime and undermine the severity of murder. Just an opinion
"It's our ability to choose, whatever you think is true, that makes us humans"
Those are strong and powerful word
A comment from 6 years ago. Scrolling eventually finds old comments
6 years later and it's still one of the best games ever.
Joseph Ocasio *8
*9
11*
@@mhnsx7115 Jesus, Time sure does fly.
3 months & I'll be back in here. Saying " 12 "
Silenzio. Silenzio. Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now - and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn from myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose - whatever you think is true - that makes us human... There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else.
Lightmoon Tan goosebumps
越 Silencio
Quiet....
I got goosebumps
“Everything is permitted”
This is one of the best written speeches in gaming history. I miss this writing in ubisoft games.
Watch the scene of Bayek when he forms the Assassins it's just as powerful
Connors speech as well
No other games like this one
Ezio is my favourite and the best character
Happy 555th Bday Ezio Auditore - 24th of June
The Blade Runner mine too
Ezio is the best assassin in my opinion.
lda Cecilie W. Myklebust I agree
@@ashadowperson9905 He is the Best Assassin in the franchise 😊 and that's the fact
Imagine if Ezio, Altair, Edward, Connor and Desmond were brothers at the same timeline. The Assassin's would be Unstoppable!
Assassins would be new templars 😂
I mean, in terms of power and resources templars have . . .
Edward would dominate
@Quack boi not really
@General kenobi wrong
@@ogeraldo1388 no. Everyone in the original Desmond plot is an ancestor of Desmond., and as such, they are all related
When I first saw this I felt so free, I felt like there were no laws to hold me back and that the world is beautiful place waiting to be explored. The music is so deep, whenever I listen to it my hert stops beating and I cry because I feel so inspired and happy my feelings are indescribable... I would love to know if anyone feels the sameway. But I can still never fully describe how I felt :(
I feel u completely bro. It's an indescribable, inspiring feeling and together with the music this speech gives me goose bumps...
Sproll 24 i feel the same way sometimes
Sproll 24 you have no idea how much I relate to you. I love assassins creed to pieces because of this, the feeling of going for what's right and always being free. I related to ezio in such a personal level that it felt like I was there with him, fighting for the assassins.
I swear that I feel the same way you feel
I feel the same way as you to.
And to believe last week i saw kids playing over the place where they burnt Savonarola. Gives me chills.
frank Florence town square
You visited the Palazza Dela Signora?
Lol
When you play these games as a kid and follow Ezio from birth to death, it feels like I myself am growing from naive boy to a wise old man. The game ends and you're there just sitting with all these thoughts and emotions and new philosophies and ideas. Years later you realize that the game influenced you beyond your own comprehension, it shaped your personality and the actions you take. Man I love this speech.
Im disappointed
@@mysteriousportal7077 why?
@@five2019 no friend to give me gifts at Ramadan or Christmas or Birthday
@@mysteriousportal7077 oh thats sad. Hope you get new friends
@@mysteriousportal7077do not sit and wait for people to give you things. You don't need friends, search within yourself, all the things you want, and all the things you want to achieve you can do all by yourself. You just have to be willing to search and fight for it.
I swear one of the reasons why I loved this game is the soundtrack. I knew that the game would be amazing, the moment you reached the top of that tower while racing your brother. That intro still gives me so much joy.
I love that this is AC2. He had only just joined the Brotherhood and he already understands it, and is already acting like the mentor he'll soon be. :)
ehhh, this is after a timeskip. He says in the beginning that it was 22 years since he watched his family die, so he’s been in the brotherhood for a good bit at this point
He’s been in the brotherhood for about 9 years at this point
This is 22 years into the Brotherhood
“There are those who will take those freedoms from us, too many of you gladly give it.”
- 2020
How is it 2020 🤣
@@tegs44 bah bah
And 22
And 2021
Ah yes using a genuinely good speech as an excuse to deny science because “wahhhh I don’t wanna wear a mask!”
The whole Ezio trilogy was a masterpiece
Greatest speech ever of Assassins Creed.
Greatest speed ever in all video games.
Ezio and Desmond are the best characters .
+InoshiKenshi jesus
lol
ezio and altaïr
Desmond is gay
shut your gob,desmond doesnt kiss boys.
One of the most inspiring speeches ever.
Another comment that is 6 years. Nice
This speech was the seed of my moral compass.
That's gross.
Wouldn’t that defeat his message ?
@@mysteriousportal7077 What's gross about what the speech says?
nothing is true everything is permitted
Honestly, this speech was the best part of the dlc chapters. The chapters themselves really slowed down the pacing of the plot.
Nope
Ezio was the best part
Wait AC2 had a DLC? besides the Auditore tombs?
@@AssassinEmbers yes, Battle of Forli and Bonfires of the vanities (part of the one in this video).
_when assassin's creed was philosophical..._
Wise words from Ezio
im only just realizing now that this speech is a core part of my own philosophy. after years of not touching an assassins creed game i am reminded why 11 year old me fell in love with this game.
I would give anything to see a conversation between Ezio and Haytham.
" There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way! "
This line really have a deep meaning ✅✅✅
This year, this game turned 10 years old. Despite its age, Ezio will never be forgotten.
Ezio is really mature at this point. Remember that at this point he came from Cristina's house only to see her dead by the hands of savoranola. As much as ezio wants to burn the man, he still choose his morals. Ezio Auditore is the best!
"they never preached answer's, but guided me to learn by myself."
They say video games are a waste of time, but if you pay attention, it is actually a masterpiece and a piece of art.
Indeed
Everyone in the world should hear this!
I was a fool. To just merely throw away the lessons he gave me because it's just a game. Never knew it until it was too late.
It’s never to late, ask yourself within every decision if it would make you proud in the future
Fiction is based on real life. Shouldn't ignore life lessons just because the ones spreading them is a fictional character
"There is no book or teacher to give you the answers or show you the path. Choose your own way." -Ezio Auditore Da Firenze
Even in 2022 and the years to come this will remain legendary
exactly we need this in video games life lessons and emotion and feeling in games again and some substance not just to play a game cause its fun but to learn from it specifically story games it is a story at the end of the day we have to learn from it imo.
Thanks for the speech, Sonic
I see what you did there.
Great speech Chris redfield
ooooohh, got that one
"There is no book or teacher to give you the answers."
Ezio an hour later back at the villa
"salute Claudia"
Claudia: "you here to look at the book?"
I love the "that's my boy" look from Mario at the ending
Ezios speech makes more sense than most political speeches.
Yeah wtf
Been replaying the series and just finished the Ezio collection again, decided to watch this... gets me misty eyed every time
I'm crying as he speaks...
Games don't have these iconic moments anymore .They just write something hoping they would stick. RPG games are not just about action.
"There is no book or teacher to give you the answers."
RIP MARIO AND EZIO
RIP all
I live by this speech
I'll follow your advice Ezio...
"Do not follow me ! Or anyone else ! "
and that is why Ezio's philosophy is greater than anyone religion :)
He's telling them what to do, though. But yes, you are correct. Do only what you think is right. Do not follow anyone else unless you want to. Ezio had that correct. I have nothing else to say.
Venturiantale Fan108 it is true but it is also important to respect will of others, and be open to changes
this is the best path for me you follow what you think is right for you and others, but if somebody can expand your moral code it is worth listening to him,
also we need to be sure that we do what we think is right cus somebody can say i am doing what i think is right; but in reality he simply can do as he please without caring that his actions are hurting others
and if we dont respect will of others it will created conflicts,
humanity can advance as only we pass our knowledge and expand it; we learn more and more by it; if we would stop at certain point humanity wouldnt move on. It is important to respect will of others and follow your own, but also be open for changes. Sth Big Boss from MGS taught me xD
Even though all the philosopher's in the Renaissance believed in God lol!
stfu :)
ultimatetrex1999 not all ._.
VChuckShunA....... Yes :) ( All the main one's, sorry!!!!)
stfu
11 years, this he is still a masterpiece...
Dear Claudia, I was given a speech to follow the footprints of Altair. "It is our ability to choose the true, if you're a human".
I loved this Scene and the speech
We saw him as a baby, raised into that air in his father's hands. Hear his name spoken for the first time, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. We saw the tragedy that befell his family and the suffering Ezio went through. We saw his greatest triumphs and his greatest losses. We saw him grow from a cocky teenager into an elderly man with a lifetime of wisdom. We saw him take his first breaths in the world and we saw him take his last (Assassin's Creed Embers). Of all the characters we have seen in the Assassin's Creed franchise, Ezio holds a special place.
Back when Assassins creed games were unique and didn’t just focus on gameplay but more about telling a good story and making you connect to the characters. Now they rush to put out a game every year and slap a AC tile on it and bam, they make money.
You know this was a DLC that cost extra to get they even recorded dialogue to say "oh this sequence is missing"
It's been a few months since I played it... And I've watched this video countless times... But once more, I am, for some reason, tearing... It's amazing. For a game character, Ezio is one of the greatest philosopher and fighter I've met.
3:10 ...Squad Goals
I wish this was also in ac brotherhood after Christina’s death, they joined ezio and pay their respect to her and they all walk away together after ezio said goodbye.
It is our ability to choose - whatever we think is true - that make us 'uman.' to go along with:
We work in the dark - to serve the light. Vittoria agli Assassini!
One of the best speeches in games history
Also I know its not applicable in the current world but maybe in the future or the afterlife
Free world will not gonna happen at least for 10000years.
It actually is applicable. The only reason you say it isn't is because "there are those who will take our freedoms from us, and too many of you gladly give it."
I remember seeing this scene for the first time like it was yesterday
R.I.P assassins creed
Ezio: We are free to follow our own path...
Me: deletes google maps
Played this a dozen times now. And I am pretty sure I'll keep playing it (ac1 up to ac:iii, ezio being my favourite, obviously) untill I die.
The story. The music(!!!), Ezio, and all of his companions. It is beyond perfect and I think I'll never get tired of it.
Great speech and absolutely correct. Very existentialist.
*nihilism
This scene has taught me more than any book I've read.
ezio message in short is be yourself fuck others way of life stay true to urself and what makes u happy stay close to ur morals if u have a dream or a goal do it ur the only person in this world that can make shit happen for urself and learn shit be ur own teacher and not to follow others path or the paths most walked and that ppl want u to take. And too also enjoy ur freedoms in this world.
This speech has connection to " Nothing is True, Everything is permitted"
Ezio just needs a new game that just a remastered of all his games a true remaster next gen graphics new animations same fighting and new cutscene animations but same audio cause this game is iconic asf man this game gives me chills.
though freedom is important, rules are important too. There always needs to be balance.
We don't need anyone to tell us what to do? We are free to follow our own path? It is our ability to choose whatever you think true that makes us human.
Loc K no you fuck. freedom is human nature. rules are there to control people. I dont need a babysitter why do you kid?
You look like children. Ezio never said rules weren't necessary, what he said was that people need to learn to behave themselfes, and that's a difficult task.
You three are naive.
"We bring order from chaos. If everything is permitted, no one is safe."
Without rules and laws that bind people, there would be chaos everyday. Freedom is nice. But it often is blind.
If you have a target within your (spiritual) path the rules are "automatically" included. Because you learn yourself what is good (not only for you) and what is bad . . .
Those lines were really great
Video games are so much more than just something to do. They allow people to delve into another reality entirely. And, like Assassin's Creed, many carry a larger message. Games are not only fun, they can be a learning tool. Sometimes for good. Sometimes for bad. It's games like AC, however, that I enjoy so much simply because of the morals taught by the lead characters. So much of it applies to modern reality. It's almost mind-blowing.
People who seek wisdom from the assassin creed series are legends.
I’m doing it now
Thanks.
We learned so many things from man not even lived .
This speech was pretty much better than the entire dlc
This speech was the only good part of the DLC
You know this here is so relatable to this day in age call it what you want but it’s true to many of you gladly give your freedom to those in power a revolt is necessary
I studied lot of things from games
Questo e assolutamente incredibile! You Will always live on our hearts, Ezio Auditore da Firenze....
If they were just able to put this at the end of Assassins creed 2; the perfect ending. The last piece of the puzzle to make the perfect video game.
Why did it have to be DLC? Why on earth would you leave something so beautiful to be excluded from most players?
DLC is the worst thing that ever happened to video games.
Mr. Dystopian no it's not, this lets developer add extra stuff to the game
Most players when the game was released. Everyone playing after got the dlc included and got the exprience it all.
playing ezio collection dude the old ACs where something special man wish they could replicate them in other AC games in modern times man.
How did they make a game so god damn good
"There are those who would take that freedom from us,Many of you gladly give it"
This is so true in today's world..People give up their human rights because their governments tell them.
This brings me life
I feel like this is pretty relevant today with the some of the current discourse about AC Shadows
What do you mean by that out of curiosity? Because the way I'd interpret this is to not worry about the culture war BS and instead focus on things more important to my life and the people around me. So, I'm curious what you think it says about Shadows? How does it speak to you?
The best speech was hidden in some DLC
this scene is so relevant now. too many people blindly throwaway their own freedom to think for themselves
My monologue for my acting class
I love this game, and Ezio is one of the best video game characters of all damn time. He is tragic and I watched him grow as I grew myself. This is why I love the Assassin's Creed series so much.
Altair was raised to be an Assassin at birth; Ezio was trained to be an Assassin at 17. Altair became a Master Assassin when he was 24; Ezio at age 40. Altair became the Mentor of his order at age 26 and remained mentor for the rest of his life; Ezio became Mentor at 44 and held it for 9 years. Altair lived to be 92; Ezio lived to be 65. AND Altair discovered and used the hidden gun before Ezio's time.
Facts put into consideration... Altair is the best assassin ever
Ezio got three games. Case dismissed
Guys lets not fight over such trivial things. There both badasses.
How long they live really has nothing to do with that.... Besides, Ezio did life a good life; Altair waste 20 years of his life starring into that Apple of Eden. 65 is pretty old in those days and Ezio lived a great life and accomplished what he wanted, to save Italy as well as raise a family
Lamar Davis He did such thing to learn how to use the Apple, if you recall from AC Revelations Altaïr only lived to the age of 92 thanks to the Apple that was giving him vital energy when he disconected with it he almost immediately died, I'm not here to say who's the best because that's dumb, they were the best Assassins on their time-lines what really matters, and you don't lose the title of Mentor, Ezio also died as one he was only "retired" from the Order.
IMO, Ezio should've been an assassin so much earlier then he was, he killed so much important templars...
I used this speech in one of my essays, I got the highest mark in class,and the teacher loved it.
he really grew :) didnt he?
Loki Laufeyson oh hey I thought you were dead
Everyone dies in Marvel, but not really haha
In did
THIS TOUCHEZ ME literally everytime.
Silenzio. Silenzio. Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now - and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn from myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose - whatever you think is true - that makes us human... There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else.