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194 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XX1. 1. 
curritur ; mort velle non tantum fortis, aut miser, aut prudens, 
sed etiam fashdiosus potest. But in enterprises, pursuits, 
and purposes of life, there is much variety; whereof men 
are sensible with pleasure in their inceptions, progres- 
sions, recoils, reintegrations, approaches and attainings 
to their ends. So as it was well said, Vita szne proposiio 
languida et vaga est. Neither hath this active good any 
identity with the good of society, though in some case it 
hath an incidence into it. For although it do many times 
bring forth acts of beneficence, yet it is with a respect 
private to a man’s own power, glory, amplification, con- 
tinuance ; as appeareth plainly, when it findeth a contrary 
subject. For that gigantine state of mind which pos- 
sesseth the troublers of the world, such as was Lucius 
Sylla and infinite other in smaller model, who would 
have all men happy or unhappy as they were their friends 
or enemies, and would give form to the world, according 
to their own humours (which is the true theomachy), 
pretendeth and aspireth to active good, though it recedeth 
furthest from good of society, which we have determined 
to be the greater. 
2. To resume passive good, it receiveth a subdivision of 
conservative and perfective. For let us take a brief review 
of that which we have said: we have spoken first of the 
good of society, the intention whereof embraceth the 
form of human nature, whereof we are members and 
portions, and not our own proper and individual form: 
we have spoken of active good, and supposed it as a 
part of private and particular good. And rightly, for there 
is impressed upon all things a triple desire or appetite 
proceeding from love to themselves; one of preserving 
and continuing their form; another of advancing and 
perfecting their form; and a third of multiplying and 
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