The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

Boox II. ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 233
times upon kindness, sometimes upon trouble of telligenced in every several kind. The second
mind and weakness, they open themselves; es- is, to keep a good mediocrity in liberty of speech
pecially if they be put to it with a counter-dissi- and secrecy; in most things liberty: secrecy
mulation, according to the proverb of Spain, " Di where it importeth; for liberty of speech inmentira, y sacaras verdad." (Tell a lie and find viteth and provoketh liberty to be used again,
the truth.) " and so bringeth much to a man's knowledge; and
As for the knowing of men, which is at second secrecy, on the other side, induceth trust and inhand from reports; men's weaknesses and faults warduess. The last is, the reducing of a man's
are best known from their enemies, their virtues self to this watchful and serene habit, as to make
and abilities from their friends, their customs and account and purpose, in every conference and actimes from their servants, their conceits and opi- tion, as well to observe as to act. For as Epictenions from their familiar friends, with whom they tus would have a philosopher in every particular
discourse most. General fame is light, and the action to say to himself, ", Et hoc volo, et etiam
opinions conceived by superiors or equals are de- institutum servare;" so a politic man in every
ceitful: for to such, men are more masked: thing should say to himself, "Et hoc volo, ac
"' Verior fama e domesticis emanat." etiam aliquid addiscere." I have stayed the lonBut the soundest disclosing apd expounding of ger upon this precept of obtaining good informamen is by their natures and ends, wherein the tion, because it is a main part by itself, which anweakest sort of men are best interpreted by their swereth to all the rest. But, above all things, caunatures, and the wisest by their ends. For it was tion must be taken that men have a good stay and
both pleasantly and wisely said, though I think hold of themselves, and that this much knowledge
very untruly, by a nuncio of the pope, returning do not draw on much meddling: for nothing is
from a certain nation where he served as lieger; more unfortunate than light and rash intermedwhose opinion being asked touching the appoint- dling in many matters. So that this variety of
ment of one to go in his place, he wished that in knowledge tendeth in conclusion but only to this,
any case they did not send one that was too wise; to make a better and freer choice of those actions
because no very wise man would ever imagine which may concern us, and to conduct them with
what they in that country were like to do. And the less error and the more dexterity.
certainly it is an error frequent for men to shoot The second precept concerning this knowledge
over, and to suppose deeper ends, and more com- is, for men to take good information touching
pass-reaches than are: the Italian proverb being their own person, and well to understand themelegant, and for the most part true: selves: knowing that, as St. James saith, though
"Di danari, di senno, e di fede, men look oft in a glass, yet they do suddenly
Ce ne nianco che non credi." forget themselves; wherein as the divine glass is
(There is commonly less money, less wisdom, and the word of God, so the politic glass is the state
less good faith than men do account upon.) of the world, or times wherein we live, in the
But princes, upon a far other reason, are best which we are to behold ourselves.
interpreted by their natures, and private persons For men ought to take an impartial view of
by their ends; for princes being at the top of hu- their own abilities and virtues; and again of their
man desires, they have for the most part no par- wants and impediments; accounting these with
ticular ends whereto they aspire, by distance the most, and those other with the least; and from
from which a man might take measure and scale this view and examination to frame the consideraof the rest of their actions and desires; which is tions following.
one of the causes that maketh their hearts more First, to consider how the constitution of their
inscrutable. Neither is it sufficient to inform. nature sorteth with the general state of the times;
ourselves in men's ends and natures, of the which if they find agreeable and fit, then in all
variety of them only, but also of the predominan- things to give themselves more scope and liberty;
cy, what humour reigneth most, and what end is but if differing and dissonant, then in the whole
principally sought. For so we see, when Tigel- course of their life to be more close, retired, and
linus saw himself outstripped by Petronius Tur- reserved: as we see in Tiberius, who was never
pilianus in Nero's humours of pleasures, " metus seen at a play, and came not into the senate in
cjus rimatur" (he wrought upon Nero's fears,) twelve of his last years; whereas Augustus C.ewhereby he broke the other's neck. sar lived ever in men's eyes, which Tacitus ob
But to all this part of inquiry the most compen- serveth, ", Alia Tiberio morum via."
dious way resteth in three things: the first, to Secondly, to consider how their nature sorteth
have general acquaintance and inwardness with with professions and courses of life, and accordthose which have general acquaintance and look ingly to make election, if they be free; and, if
most into the world; and especially according te engaged, to make the departure at the first opporthe diversity of business, and the diversity of per- tunity: as we see was done by Duke Valentine,
sons to have privacy and conversation with some that was designed by his father to a sacerdotal
one friend, at least, which is perfect and well in- profession, but quitted it soon after in regard of
VOL. I.-30 U 9