The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

LETTER AND DISCOURSE TO SIR HENRY SAVILL,
TOUCHING
HELPS FOR THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS.
SIR, place to practise it, and judgment and leisure to
COMING back from your invitation at Eton, look deeper into it, than I have done. Herein
where I had refreshed myself with company you must call to mind "Aptarov ygv v'Cop. Though
which I loved, I fell into a consideration of that the argument be not of great height and dignity,
part of policy whereof philosophy speaketh too nevertheless it is of great and universal use; and
much and laws too little; and that is of education yet I do not see why, to consider it rightly, that
of youth. Whereupon fixing my mind a while, I should not be a learning of height, which teachfound straightways, and noted even in the dis- eth to raise the highest and worthiest part of the
courses of philosophers which are so large in this mind. But howsoever that be, if the w Drld take
argument, a strange silence concerning one prin- any light and use by this writing, I wi l the gracipal part of that subject. For as touching the tulation be to the good friendship and acquaintframing and seasoning of youth to moral virtue, ance between us two. And so I commend you
(as tolerance of labours, continency from plea- to God's divine protection.
sures, obedience, honour, and the like,) they handle it; but touching the improvement and helping A DISCOURSE TOUCHING HELPS FOR
of the intellectual powers, as of conceit, memory, THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS.
and judgment, they say nothing. Whether it
were that they thought it to be a matter wherein I DID ever hold it for an insolent and unlucky
nature only prevailed; or that they intended it as saying, 1" faber quisque fortunte sua," except it be
referred to the several and proper arts which teach uttered only as an hortative or spur to correct sloth.
the use of reason and speech. But for the former For otherwise if it be believed as it soundeth;
of these two reasons, howsoever it pleaseth them and that a man entereth into an high imagination
to distinguish of habits and powers, the experi- that he can compass and fathom all accidents;
ence is manifest enough that the motions and fa- and ascribeth all successes to his drifts and
culties of the wit and memory may be not only reaches, and the contrary to his errors and sleepgoverned and guided but also confirmed and en- ings. It is commonly seen that the evening forlarged by custom and exercise duly applied. As tune of that man is not so prosperous as of him
if a man exercise shooting, he shall not only shoot that without slackening of his industry attributeth
nearer the mark but also draw a stronger bow. much to felicity and providence above him. But
And as for the latter of comprehending these pre- if the sentence were turned to this, " faber quiscepts within the arts of logic and rhetoric, if it que ingenii sui," it were somewhat more true
be rightly considered, their office is distinct alto- and much more profitable; because it would teach
gether from this point. For it is no part of the men to bend themselves to reform those imperfecdoctrine of the use or handling of an instrument to tions in themselves, which now they seek but to
teach how to whet or grind the instrument to give cover; and to attain those virtues and good parts,
it a sharp edge, or how to quench it or otherwise which now they seek but to have only in show and
whereby to give it a stronger temper. Wherefore demonstration. Yet notwithstanding every man
fnding this part of knowledge not broken, I have attempteth to be of the first trade of carpenters,
but,taonquam aliud agens" entered into it, and and few bind themselves to the second: whereas
salute you with it, dedicating it after the ancient nevertheless, the rising in fortune seldom amendmanner, first as to a dear friend: and then as to eth the mind; but on the other side, the removing
an apt person; for as much as you have both of the stondes and impediments of the mind. doth
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