EDUCATION FOB PROFESSIONS. 449 



Francis of Verulam thought thus, and such is the method which he de- 

 termined within himself, and which he thought it concerned the living and pos- 

 terity to know. 



Being convinced, by a careful observation, that the human understanding 

 perplexes itself, or makes not a sober and advantageous use of the real helps 

 within its reach, whence manifold ignorance and inconveniences arise, he was 

 determined to employ his utmost endeavors towards restoring or cultivating a 

 just and legitimate familiarity betwixt the mind and things. 



Bacon says, also : 



And whilst men agree to admire and magnify the false powers of the mind, 

 and neglect or destroy those that might be rendered true, there is no other course 

 left but, with better assistance, to begin the work anew, and raise or rebuild 

 the sciences, arts, and all human knowledge from a firm and solid basis. 



Nor is he ignorant that he stands alone in an experiment almost too bold 

 and astonishing to obtain credit ; yet he thought it not right to desert either the 

 cause or himself, but to boldly enter on the way and explore the only path 

 which is pervious to the human mind. For it is wiser to engage in an under- 

 taking that admits of some termination than to involve oneself in perpetual 

 exertion and anxiety about what is interminable. 



In the mechanic arts, the case is otherwise these commonly advancing 

 towards perfection in a course of daily improvement, from a rough unpolished 

 state, sometimes prejudicial to the first inventors; whilst philosophy and the 

 intellectual sciences are, like statues, celebrated and adored, but never advanced ; 

 nay, they sometimes appear most perfect in the original author, and afterwards 

 degenerate. For since men have gone over in crowds to the opinion of their 

 leader, like those silent senators of Rome, they add nothing to the extent of 

 learning themselves, but perform the servile duty of waiting upon particular 

 authors, and repeating their doctrines. 



The end of our new logic is to find, not arguments, but arts; not what 

 agrees with principles, but principles themselves; not probable reasons, but 

 plans and designs of works a different intention producing a different effect.* 



Finally : The preparation of the physical man, like the preparation 

 of the foundations of any great architectural structure, is a first and a 

 last essential. Of little value is a noble conception or a high aspira- 

 tion, the noblest work of the greatest architect or the highest attain- 

 ments of the greatest human genius, without a solid and safe substruc- 

 ture, capable of supporting it at all times, in all weathers and in all 

 contingencies, throughout a long and constantly satisfying life. 

 Health, strength, vigor, ambition and high spirits are essential strata 

 in this foundation of every human structure of character and value. 

 The human mind, the human intellect, the spiritual and the moral man, 

 can only survive and properly flourish within a wholesome and vigor- 

 ous body. So closely are the mind and body related that the failure 

 of the one carries with it, inevitably, loss of efficiency and ultimate 

 failure of the other. Every minutest defect of body and brain of the 

 physical man detracts from the possibilities of accomplishment of the 

 highest and best in the profession, in the home, in the house of one's 



* ' Novum Organum.' 

 vol. iiXii. 29. 



