158 THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



use and protection ; and they be three wisdoms of divers 

 natures which do often sever wisdom of the behaviour, wisdom 

 of business, and wisdom of state. 



(3) The wisdom of conversation ought not to be over mucJ 

 affected, but much less despised ; for it hath not only an honour 

 in itself, but an influence also into business and government. 

 The poet saith, Nee vultu destrue verba tuo : a man may destroy 

 the force of his words with his countenance ; so may he of his 

 deeds, saith Cicero, recommending to his brother affability and 

 easy access ; Nil interest liabere ostium apertum, vultum dausum : 

 it is nothing won to admit men with an open door, and to re 

 ceive them with a shut and reserved countenance. So we see 

 Atticus, before the first interview between Caesar and Cicero, 

 the war depending, did seriously advise Cicero touching the 

 composing and ordering of his countenance and gesture. And 

 if the government of the countenance be of such effect, mucn 

 more is that of the speech, and other carriage appertaining to 

 conversation ; the true model whereof seemeth to me well ex 

 pressed by Livy, though not meant for this purpose : Ne aut 

 arrogans mdear, aut obnoxius ; quorum alterum est alierm 

 libwtatis obliti, alterum suce : the sum of behaviour is to retain 

 a man s own dignity, without intruding upon the liberty ot 

 others. On the other side, if behaviour and outward carriage 

 be intended too much, first it may pass into affectation, and 

 then Quid deformius quam scenam in vitani transferee io act a 

 man s life ? But although it proceed not to that extreme, yet 

 it consumeth time, and employeth the mind too much. And 

 therefore as we use to advise young students from company 

 keeping, by saying, Amid fures temporis : so certainly the in 

 tending of the discretion of behaviour is a grsat thief of medita 

 tion Again, such as are accomplished in that form of urbanity 

 please themselves in it, and seldom aspire to higher virtue ; 

 whereas those that have defect in it do seek comeliness by 

 reputation ; for where reputation is, almost everything be- 

 cometh ; but where that is not, it must be supplied by puntos 

 and compliments. Again, there is no greater impediment of 

 action than an over-curious observance of decency, and tne 

 guide of decency, which is time and season. For as Solomon 

 saith, Qui respicit ad ventos, non seminat ; et qui respicit aa 

 nubes, non metet : a man must make his opportunity, as oft as 

 find it. To conclude, behaviour seemeth to me as a garment ol 

 the mind, and to have the conditions of a garment. For i 

 ou-ht to be made in fashion ; it ought not to be too curious ; it 

 ought to be shaped so as to set forth any good making of the 

 mind and hide any deformity ; and above all, it ought not to 



