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A Discourse touching Helps for the Intellectual Powers, by Sir Francis Bacon.
I Did ever hold it for an insolent and unlucky saying, Faber quisque fortunas suas; except it be uttered only as an hortative, or spur, to correct sloth: For otherwise, if it be believed as it soundeth, and that a man entreth into an high imagination that he can compass and fathom all Accidents, and ascribeth all Successes to his drifts and reaches, and the contrary to his errours and sleepings; it is commonly seen, that the Evening fortune of that man is not so prosperous, as of him that, without slacking of his industry, attributeth much to Felicity and Pro∣vidence above him. But if the Sentence were turned to this, Faber quisque ingenii sui, it were somewhat more true, and much more pro∣fitable; because it would teach men to bend themselves to reform those imperfections in themselves, which now they seek but to cover; and to attain those vertues and good parts, which now they seek but to have only in shew and demonstration. Yet, notwithstanding, every man at∣tempteth to be of the first Trade of Carpenters, and few bind them∣selves to the second; whereas, nevertheless, the rising in Fortune seldom amendeth the mind; but, on the other side, the removing of the stones and impediments of the mind, doth often clear the passage and current to a mans Fortune But certain it is, whether it be believed or no, that as the most excellent of Metals, Gold, is of all others the most pli∣ant, and most enduring to be wrought; so of all living and breathing substances, the perfectest, Man, is the most susceptible of help, im∣provement, imprestion, and alteration, and not only in his Body, but in his Mind and spirit; and there again, not only in his Appetite and Af∣fection, but in his powers of Wit and Reason.
For, as to the Body of Man, we find many and strange experiences, how Nature is over-wrought by custom, even in actions that seem of most difficulty, and least possible. As first, in voluntary motion, which though it be termed voluntary, yet the highest degrees of it are not vo∣luntary; for it is in my power and will to run, but to run faster than ac∣cording to my lightness, or disposition of body, is not in my power nor will. We see the industry and practice of Tumblers and Funambulo's, what effects of great wonder it bringeth the body of man unto. So for suffering of pain and dolour, which is thought so contrary to the nature of man, there is much example of Penances, in strict Orders of Superstition, what they do endure; such as may well verifie the report