196 Bacon 



sary that virtue be not disvalued and imbased under the 

 just price; which is done in three manners: by offering 

 and obtruding a man s self; wherein men think he is 

 rewarded, when he is accepted; by doing too much, which 

 will not give that which is well done leave to settle, and in 

 the end induceth satiety ; and by finding too soon the fruit 

 of a man s virtue, in commendation, applause, honour, 

 favour; wherein if a man be pleased with a little, let him 

 hear what is truly said: Cave ne insuetus rebus majoribus 

 videaris, si h&amp;lt;zc te res parva sicuti magna delectat. 1 



But the covering of defects is of no less importance than 

 the valuing of good parts; which may be done likewise in 

 three manners, by caution, by colour, and by confidence. 

 Caution is when men do ingeniously and discreetly avoid 

 to be put into those things for which they are not proper: 

 whereas, contrariwise, bold and unquiet spirits will thrust 

 themselves into matters without difference, and so publish 

 and proclaim all their wants. Colour is, when men make a 

 way for themselves, to have a construction made of their 

 faults or wants, as proceeding from a better cause, or 

 intended for some other purpose: for of the one it is well 

 said, 



Saepe latet vitium proximitate boni, 2 



and therefore whatsoever want a man hath, he must see 

 that he pretend the virtue that shadoweth it ; as if he be 

 dull, he must affect gravity ; if a coward, mildness ; and so 

 the rest : for the second, a man must frame some probable 

 cause why he should not do his best, and why he should 

 dissemble his abilities; and for that purpose must use to 

 dissemble those abilities which are notorious in him, to 

 give colour that his true wants are but industries and 

 dissimulations. For confidence, it is the last 3 but surest 

 remedy; namely, to depress and seem to despise whatso 

 ever a man cannot attain; observing the good principle 

 of the merchants, who endeavour to raise the price of their 

 own commodities, and to beat down the price of others. 

 But there is a confidence that passeth this other ; which is, 

 to face out a man s own defects, in seeming to conceive that 



1 Cic. ad Heren. iv. 4. 2 Ovid, Art Am. ii. 662. 



3 i.e. the last which should be made use of; &quot; impudens certe est 

 rernedium, sed tamen, etc.&quot; 



