ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 359 



a kind of miracle that he never gave any servile opinion, 

 and yet stood safe in severe times. 45 



XXXII. Give occasion to a wise man, and his wisdom will be increased 44 



This aphorism distinguishes between that wisdom which 

 has grown up and ripened into a true habit, and that which 

 only floats in the brain, or is tossed upon the tongue with 

 out having taken root. The former, when occasion offers, 

 is presently roused, got ready, and distended, so as to ap 

 pear greater than itself; whereas the latter, which was pert 

 before, stands amazed and confounded when occasion calls 

 for it: so that the person who thought himself endowed with 

 this wisdom, begins to question whether his preconceptions 

 about it were not mere dreams and empty speculations. 



.XXXIII. To praise one s friend aloud, rising early, has the same effect 

 as cursing him 45 



Moderate and sensible praises, dropped occasionally, are 

 of great service to the reputation and fortunes of men; while 

 immoderate, noisy, and fulsome praises do no good, but 

 rather hurt, as the aphorism expresses it. For, 1, they 

 plainly betray themselves to proceed from an excess of good 

 will, or to be purposely designed rather to gain favor with 

 the person by false encomiums, than to paint him justly. 

 2. Sparing and modest praises generally invite the company 

 somewhat to improve them, but profuse and immoderate ones 

 to detract and take off from them. 3. The principal thing 

 is, that immoderate praises procure envy to the person 

 praised, as all extravagant commendations seem to reproach 

 others that may be no less deserving. 



XXXI Y. As the face shines in water, so are men s hearts manifest 

 to the wise 46 



This aphorism distinguishes between the minds of pru 

 dent men and those of others, by comparing the former to 

 water, or a mirror, which receives the forms and images of 



43 Annals, iv. 20. ** Prov. ix. 9. 



45 Prov. xxiv. 14. 46 Prov. xxvii. 19. 



