The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

168 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. BOOK I.
corruptis moribus ludibrio sunt:" and Cicero noteth depth of their corrupt principles may despise it,
this error directly in Cato the Second, when he yet it will receive an open allowance, and therewrites to his friend Atticus: "c Cato optime sentit, fore, needs the less disproof or excusation.
sed nocet interdum reipublicte; loquitur enim Another fault incident commonly to learned
tanquam in republica Platonis, non tanquam in men, which may be more probably defended than
feece Romuli." And the same Cicero doth ex- truly denied, is, that they fail sometimes in applycuse and expound the philosophers for going too ing themselves to particular persons: which want
far, and being too exact in their prescripts, when of exact application ariseth from two causes: the
he saith, " Isti ipsi praeceptores virtutis et magis- one, because the largeness of their mind can hardly
tri, videnter fines officiorum paulo longius quam confine itself to dwell in the exquisite observanatura vellet protulisse ut cum ad ultimum animo tion or examination of the nature and customs of
contendissemus, ibi tamen, ubi oportet, consiste- one person: for it is a speech for a lover, and not
remus:" and yet himself might have said, "Mo- for a wise man: " Satus magnum alter alteri
nitus sum minor ipse meis:" for it was his own theatrum sumus." Nevertheless I shall yield,
fault, though not in so extreme a degree. that he that cannot contract the sight of his mind,
Another fault likewise much of this kind hath as well as disperse and dilate it, wanteth a great
been incident to learned men; which is, that they faculty. But there is a second cause, which is
have esteemed the preservation, good, and honour no inability, but a rejection upon choice and judgof their countries or masters before their own for- ment; for the honest and just bounds of observatunes or safeties. For so saith Demosthenes unto tion, by one person upon another, extend no
the Athenians: " If it please you to note it, my farther but to understand him sufficiently, whereby
counsels unto you are not such whereby I should not to give him offence, or whereby to be able to
grow great amongst you, and you become little give him faithful counsel, or whereby to stand upon
amongst the Grecians: but they be of that nature, reasonable guard and caution in respect of a man's
as they are sometimes not good for me to give, self: but to be speculative into another man, to
but are always good for you to follow." And so the end to know how to work him or wind him or
Seneca, after he had consecrated that Quinquen- govern him, proceedeth from a heart that is double
nium Neronis to the eternal glory of learned go- and cloven, and not entire and ingenuous; which
vernors, held on his honest and loyal course of as in friendship it is want of integrity, so towards
good and free counsel, after his master grew ex- princes or superiors is want of duty. For the
tremely corrupt in his government. Neither can custom of the Levant, which is, that subjects do
this point otherwise be; for learning endueth forbear to gaze or fix their eyes upon princes, is in
nien's minds with a true sense of the frailty of the outward ceremony barbarous, but the moral is
their persons, the casualty of their fortunes, and good; for men ought not by cunning and bent obthe dignity of their soul and vocation: so that it servations to pierce and penetrate into the hearts
is impossible for them to esteem that any greatness of kings, which the Scripture hath declared to be
of their own fortune can be a true or worthy end inscrutable.
of their being and ordainment; and therefore are There is yet another fault (with which I will
desirous to give their account to God, and so like- conclude this part) which is often noted in learnwise to their masters under God (as kings and the ed men, that they do many times fail to observe
states that they serve) in these words; 4"Ecce tibi decency and discretion in their behaviour and
lucrefeci," and not ", Ecce mnihi lucrefeci;" where- carriage, and commit errors in small and ordinary
as the corrupter sort of mere politicians, that have points of action, so as the vulgar sort of capacities
not their thoughts established by learning in the do make a judgment of them in greater matters
love and apprehension of duty, nor ever look by that which they find wanting in them in smaller.
abroad into universality, do refer all thinos to But this consequence doth often deceive men, for
themselves, and thrust themselves into the centre which I do refer them over to that which was said
of the world, as if all lines should meet in them by Themistocles, arrogantly and uncivilly being
and their fortunes; never caring, in all tempests, applied to himself out of his own mouth; but,
what becomes of the ship of state, so they may being applied to the general state of this question,
save themselves in the cockboat of their own for- pertinently and justly; when being invited to
tune: whereas men that feel the weight of duty, touch a lute, he said, he could not fiddle, but
and know the limits of self-love, use to make good he could make a small town a great state." So,
their places and duties, though with peril; and no doubt, many may be well seen in the passages
if they stand in seditions and violent alterations, of government and policy, which are to seek in
it is rather the reverence which many times both little and punctual occasions. I refer them also
aLdverse parts do give to honesty, than any versa- to that which Plato said of his master Socrates,
lile advantage of their own carriage. But for whom he compared to the gallipots of apothecaihis point of tender sense, and fast obligation of ries, which on the outside had apes, and owls,
diuty which learning doth endue the mind withal, and antiques, but contained within sovereign and
lonwoever fortune may tax it. and many in the precious liquors and confections; acknowledging