Sofies World, the Renaissance

... Have you ever thought that the history of Europe is a human life?

Antiquity is like the childhood of Europe.

Then come the interminable Middle Ages &endash; Europe´s schoolday.

But at last comes the Renaissance; the long schoolday is over. Europe comes of age in a burst of exuberance and a thirst for life. We could say that the Renaissance is Europe´s fifteenth birthday! It is mid-June, my child, and it is wonderful to be alive! ...

Jostein Gaardner, Sofies World, p 161,