pall ee ee Pe, eee ee ne a 
v i , f ; 
- . 
IO OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [1.3.9 
highest cause; but when a man passeth on further, and 
seeth the dependence of causes, and the works of Pro- 
vidence, then, according to the allegory of the poets, he 
will easily believe that the highest link of nature’s chain 
must needs be tied to the foot of Jupiter’s chair. To 
conclude therefore, let no man upon a weak conceit of 
sobriety or an ill-applied moderation think or maintain, 
that a man can search too far, or be too well studied in 
the book of God’s word, or in the book of God’s works, 
divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an 
endless progress or proficience in both; only let men 
beware that they apply both to charity, and not to 
swelling; to use, and not to ostentation; and again, 
that they do not unwisely mingle or confound these 
learnings together. 
IJ."1. And as for the disgraces which learning re- 
ceiveth from politiques, they be of this nature; that 
‘learning doth soften men’s minds, and makes them 
more unapt for the honour-and-exercise of arms; that it 
doth mar and pervert men’s dispositions for matter of 
government and policy, in making them too curious and 
@ irresolute. by. variety of reading,\ or too peremptory or 
' (s)positive by strictness of rules and axioms,| or too im- 
@ moderate and overweening by reason of the greatness 
of examples, or too incompatible and differing from the 
()times by reason of the dissimilitude of examples; or at 
least, that it doth divert men’s travails from action and - 
-£ business, and bringeth them to a love of leisure and 
privateness; and that it doth bring into states a relaxa-. 
tion of discipline, whilst every man is more ready to 
argue than to obey and execute. Out of this conceit, 
Cato, surnamed the Censor, one of the wisest men 
indeed that ever lived, when Carneades the philosopher 
> 
