NOVUM ORGANUM. 43 



of the names of substances, particularly of the less abstract 

 and more defined species (those then of chalk and mud are 

 good, of earth, bad) ; words signifying actions are more 

 faulty, as to generate, to corrupt, to change ; but the most 

 faulty are those denoting qualities (except the immediate 

 objects of sense), as heavy, light, rare, dense. Yet in all 

 of these there must be some notions a little better than 

 others, in proportion as a greater or less number of things 

 come before the senses. 



61. The idols of the theatre* are not innate, nor do they 

 introduce themselves secretly into the understanding ; but 

 they are manifestly instilled and cherished by the fictions 

 of theories and depraved rules of demonstration. To attempt, 

 however, or undertake their confutation would not be con 

 sistent with our declarations. For since we neither agree 

 in our principles nor our demonstrations, all argument is 

 out of the question. And it is fortunate that the ancients 

 are left in possession of their honours. We detract nothing 

 from them, seeing our whole doctrine relates only to the 

 path to be pursued. The lame (as they say) in the path 

 outstrip the swift, who wander from it, and it is clear that 

 the very skill and swiftness of him who runs not in the 

 right direction must increase his aberration. 



Our method of discovering the sciences is such as to leave 

 little to the acuteness and strength of wit, and indeed 

 rather to level wit and intellect. For as in the drawing of a 

 straight line, or accurate circle by the hand, much depends 

 on its steadiness and practice, but if a ruler or compass be 

 employed there is little occasion for either; so it is with 

 our method. Although, however, we enter into no indivi 

 dual confutations, yet a little must be said, first, of the 

 sects and general divisions of these species of theories ; 

 secondly, something further to show that there are external 

 signs of their weakness, and, lastly, we must consider the 

 causes of so great a misfortune, and so long and general a 

 unanimity in error, that we may thus render the access to 

 truth less difficult, and that the human understanding may 

 the more readily be purified, and brought to dismiss its idols. 



62. The idols of the theatre or of theories are numerous, 

 and may and perhaps will be still more so. For unless 

 men s minds had been now occupied for many ages in 

 religious and theological considerations, and civil govern 

 ments (especially monarchies) had been averse to novelties 



* Hence to Aphorism 68 treats of the idols of the theatre. 



