Advancement of Learning i 5 1 



For pedantical knowledge, it containeth that difference 

 of tradition which is proper for youth; whereunto apper 

 tain divers considerations of great fruit. 



As first, the timing and seasoning of knowledges ; as with 

 what to initiate them, and from what for a time to refrain 

 them. 



Secondly, the consideration where to begin with the 

 easiest, and so proceed to the more difficult ; and in what 

 courses to press the more difficult, and then to turn them 

 to the more easy : for it is one method to practise swimming 

 with bladders, and another to practise dancing with heavy 

 shoes. 



A third is the application of learning according unto 

 the propriety of the wits ; for there is no defect in the facul 

 ties intellectual, but seemeth to have a proper cure con 

 tained in some studies; as, for example, if a child be 

 bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, 

 the mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto ; for in them, 

 if the wit be caught away but a moment, one is to begin 

 anew. And as sciences have a propriety towards faculties 

 for cure and help, so faculties or powers have a sympathy 

 towards sciences for excellency or speedy profiting: and 

 therefore it is an inquiry of great wisdom, what kinds of 

 wits and natures are most apt and proper for what sciences. 



Fourthly, the ordering of exercises is matter of great 

 consequence to hurt or help: for, as is well observed by 

 Cicero, 1 men in exercising their faculties, if they be not 

 well advised, do exercise their faults and get ill habits as 

 well as good; so there is a great judgment to be had in the 

 continuance and intermission of exercises. It were too 

 long to particularize a number of other considerations of 

 this nature, things but of mean appearance, but of singular 

 efficacy. For as the wronging or cherishing of seeds or 

 young plants is that that is most important to their thriv 

 ing: (and as it was noted that the first six kings being in 

 truth as tutors of the state of Rome in the infancy thereof, 

 was the principal cause of the immense greatness of that 

 state which followed:) so the culture and manurance of 

 minds in youth, hath such a forcible, though unseen opera 

 tion, as hardly any length of time or contention of labour 

 can countervail it afterwards. And it is not amiss to 

 1 Cic. De Or. i. 33. 



