ee eee 
172 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING [XVII. 5. 
that is, enigmatical and disclosed. The pretence whereof 
is, to remove the vulgar capacities from being admitted 
to the secrets of knowledges, and to reserve them to 
selected auditors, or wits of such sharpness as can pierce 
the veil. 
6. Another diversity of method, whereof the conse- 
quence is great, is the delivery of knowledge in aphor- 
isms, or in methods; wherein we may observe that it 
hath been too much taken into custom, out of a few 
axioms or observations upon any subject, to make a 
solemn and formal art, filling it with some discourses, 
and illustrating it with examples, and digesting it into 
a sensible method. But the writing in aphorisms hath 
many excellent virtues, whereto the writing in method 
doth not approach. 
7. For first, it trieth the writer, whether he be superficial 
or solid: for aphorisms, except they should be ridiculous, 
cannot be made but of the pith and heart of sciences; 
for discourse of illustration is cut off; recitals of exam- 
ples are cut off; discourse of connexion and order is 
cut off; descriptions of practice are cut off. So there 
remaineth nothing to fill the aphorisms but some good 
quantity of observation: and therefore no man can suffice, 
nor in reason will attempt, to write aphorisms, but he that 
is sound and grounded. But in methods, 
Tantum series juncturaque pollet, 
Tantum dé medio sumptis accedit honoris, 
as a man shall make a great show of an art, which, if it 
were disjointed, would come to little. Secondly, methods 
are more fit to win consent or belief, but less fit to 
point to action; for they carry a kind of demonstration 
in orb or circle, one part illuminating another, and there- 
fore satisfy. But particulars being dispersed do best 
