NOVUM ORGANUM. 35 



33. To speak plainly, no correct judgment can be 

 formed either of our method, or its discoveries, by those 

 anticipations which are now in common use ; for it is not 

 to be required of us to submit ourselves to the judgment of 

 the very method we ourselves arraign. 



34. Nor is it an easy matter to deliver and explain our 

 sentiments : for those things which are in themselves new 

 can yet be only understood from some analogy to what is 

 old. 



35. Alexander Borgia said of the expedition of the 

 French into Italy that they came with chalk in their 

 hands to mark up their lodgings, and not with weapons to 

 force their passage. Even so do we wish our philosophy 

 to* make its way quietly into those minds that are fit for 

 it, and of good capacity. For we have no need of conten 

 tion where we differ in first principles, and our very no 

 tions, and even in our forms of demonstration. 



36. We have but one simple method of delivering our 

 sentiments : namely, we must bring men to particulars, and 

 their regular series and order, and they must for a while 

 renounce their notions and begin to form an acquaintance 

 with things. * 



37. Our method and that of the sceptics agree in some 

 respects at first setting^out : but differ most widely and 

 are completely opposed 10 each other in their conclusion. 

 For they roundly assert that nothing can be known ; we, 

 that but a small part of nature can be known by the pre 

 sent method. Their next step however is to destroy the 

 authority of the senses and understanding, whilst we in 

 vent and supply them with assistance. 



38. The idols and false notions which have already 

 preoccupied the human understanding, and are deeply 

 rooted in it, not only so beset men s minds, that they 

 become difficult of access, but even when access is ob 

 tained, will again meet and trouble us in the instauration 

 of the sciences, unless mankind, when forewarned, guard 

 themselves with all possible care against them. 



39. Four species of idols beset the human mind : to 

 which (for distinction s sake) we have assigned names : 

 calling the first Idols of the tribe ; the second Idols of the 

 den ; the third Idols of the market ; the fourth Idols of the 

 theatre. 



40. The formation of notions and axioms on the founda 

 tion of true induction, is the only fitting remedy, by which 

 we can ward off and expel these idols. It is however of 



