The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.35

v1.c24.35

Naturally de Nobili investigated the causes of the failure of Fr. Fernandez, and finally discovered them. "There might, of course, be other explanations", says Fr. Dandoy here. "But one seems to have suggested itself at once to the clear and keen mind of the princely Tuscan missionary. There is an old proverb about the Rome to which de Nobili compared Madura: 'Si Romae vivis Romano vivito more', (when thou art in Rome, do as the Romans do). In other words: one must adopt the customs and ways of the country one lives in. Nobili realised that one of the mistakes of his zealous brethren was that they not only failed to observe Indian customs, but by their example at least taught their converts not to respect them " ¹.