194 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XXI. i. 



curritur; mori velle non tanlumfortis, aut miser, autprudens, 

 sed etiam fastidiosus potest. But in enterprises, pursuits, 

 and purposes of life, there is much variety; whereof men 

 are sensible with pleasure in their inceptions, progres 

 sions, recoils, reintegrations, approaches and attainings 

 to their ends. So as it was well said, Vita sine proposito 

 languida et vaga est. Neither hath this active good any 

 identity with the good of society, though in some case it 

 hath an incidence into it. For although it do many times 

 bring forth acts of beneficence, yet it is with a respect 

 private to a man s own power, glory, amplification, con 

 tinuance ; as appeareth plainly, when it fmdeth a contrary 

 subject. For that gigantine state of mind which pos- 

 sesseth the troublers of the world, such as was Lucius 

 Sylla and infinite other in smaller model, who would 

 have all men happy or unhappy as they were their friends 

 or enemies, and would give form to the world, according 

 to their own humours (which is the true theomachy), 

 pretendeth and aspireth to active good, though it recedeth 

 furthest from good of society, which we have determined 

 to be the greater. 



2. To resume passive good, it receiveth a subdivision of 

 conservative and perfective. For let us take a brief review 

 of that which we have said : we have spoken first of the 

 good of society, the intention whereof embraceth the 

 form of human nature, whereof we are members and 

 portions, and not our own proper and individual form : 

 we have spoken of active good, and supposed it as a 

 part of private and particular good. And rightly, for there 

 is impressed upon all things a triple desire or appetite 

 proceeding from love to themselves ; one of preserving 

 and continuing their form; another of advancing and 

 perfecting their form; and a third of multiplying and 



