Why did Petrarch consider rhetoric important for moral education?

For Petrarch, the study of rhetoric was inextricably linked to moral purpose. Drawing on the Classical tradition of great orators like Cicero, Petrarch believed that true eloquence was not merely a matter of elegant style or the power of persuasion, but a union of elegance, power, and virtue.1

He considered rhetoric essential for moral education because its ultimate goal was to persuade individuals to pursue the "good life". Petrarch famously asserted that "it is better to will the good than to know the truth," emphasizing that intellectual knowledge must be directed toward moral action. Consequently, he viewed language as an informing principle of both the individual and society, where the mastery of rhetoric served as a tool to cultivate a moral ethos. By uniting rhetoric with philosophy, Petrarch sought to move beyond mere academic study, aiming instead to inspire people to live virtuously.123