20 THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEAENING. 



of one man s life. For as it happeneth sometimes that the 

 grandchild, or other descendant, resembleth the ancestor more 

 than the son ; so many times occurrences of present times may 

 sort better with ancient examples than with those of the later 

 or immediate times ; and lastly, the wit of one man can no 

 more countervail learning than one man s means can hold way 

 with a common purse. . 



(4) And as for those particular seducements or indispositions 

 of the mind for policy and government, which learning is 

 pretended to insinuate; if it be granted that any such thing 

 be it must be remembered withal that learning mimstereth in 

 everv of them greater strength of medicine or remedy than it 

 offereth cause of indisposition or infirmity. For if by a secret 

 operation it make men perplexed and irresolute, on the other 

 side by plain precept it teacheth them when and upon wnat 

 ground to resolve ; yea, and how to carry things in suspense, 

 without prejudice, till they- resolve. If it make men positive 

 and regular, it teacheth them what things are in their nature 

 demonstrative, and what are conjectural, and as well the use 

 of distinctions and exceptions, us the latitude of principles and 

 rules If it mislead by disproportion or dissimilitude ot 

 examples, it teacheth men the force of circumstances, the 

 errors of comparisons, and all the cautions of application ; so 

 that in all these it doth rectify more effectually than it can 

 pervert. And these medicines it conveyeth into men s minds 

 much more forcibly by the quickness and penetration of 

 examples. For let a man look into the errors of Clement VII., 

 so lively described by Guicciardini, who served under him, or 

 into the errors of Cicero, painted out by his own pencil in his 

 Epistles to Atticus, and he will fly apace from being irresolute. 

 Let him look into the errors of Phocion, and he will beware 

 how he be obstinate or inflexible. Let him but read the fable 

 of Ixion, and it will hold him from being vaporous or imagina 

 tive. Let him look into the errors of Cato II., and he will 

 never be one of the Antipodes, to tread opposite to the present 



(5) And for the conceit that learning should dispose men to 

 leisure and privateness, and make men slothful : it were a 

 strange thing if that which accustometh the mind to a perpetual 

 motion and agitation should induce slothfulness, whereas, con 

 trariwise, it may be truly affirmed that no kind of men love 

 business for itself but those that are learned ; for other persons 

 love it for profit, as a hireling that loves the work for the 

 wa-es ; or for honour, as because it beareth them up in the 

 eyes of men, and refresheth their reputation, which otherwise 



