60 NOVUM ORGANUM. 



83. The evil however has been wonderfully increased by 

 an opinion, or inveterate conceit, which is both vainglorious 

 and prejudicial, namely, that the dignity of the human 

 mind is lowered by long and frequent intercourse with 

 experiments and particulars, which are the objects of sense 

 and confined to matter; especially since such matters 

 generally require labour in investigation, are mean sub 

 jects for meditation, harsh in discourse, unproductive in 

 practice, infinite in number, and delicate in their subtilty. 

 Hence we have seen the true path not only deserted but 

 intercepted and blocked up, experience being rejected witli 

 disgust, and not merely neglected or improperly applied. 



84. Again the reverence for antiquity and the authority 

 of men who have been esteemed great in philosophy, and 

 general unanimity, have retarded men from advancing in 

 science, and almost enchanted them. As to unanimity we 

 have spoken of it above. 



The opinion which men cherish of antiquity is alto 

 gether idle, and scarcely accords with the term. For the 

 old age and increasing years of the world should in reality 

 be considered as antiquity, and this is rather the character 

 of our own times than of the less advanced age of the 

 world in those of the ancients. For the latter, with respect 

 to ourselves, are ancient and elder, with respect to the 

 world modern and younger. And as we expect a greater 

 knowledge of human affairs and more mature judgment 

 from an old man, than from a youth, on account of his 

 experience, and the variety and number of things he has 

 seen, heard, and meditated upon ; so we have reason to 

 expect much greater things of our own age (if it knew but 

 its strength and would essay and exert it) than from anti 

 quity, since the world has grown older, and its stock has 

 been increased and accumulated with an infinite number 

 of experiments and observations. We must also take into 

 our consideration that many objects in nature fit to throw 

 light upon philosophy have been exposed to our view and 

 discovered by means of long voyages and travels, in which 

 our times have abounded. It would indeed be dishonour 

 able to mankind, if the regions of the material globe, the 

 earth, the sea, and stars should be so prodigiously developed 

 and illustrated in our age, and yet the boundaries of the 

 intellectual globe should be confined to the narrow disco 

 veries of the ancients. 



With regard to authority, it is the greatest weakness to 

 attribute infinite credit to particular authors, and to refuse 

 his own prerogative to time, the author of all authors, and, 



