370 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



more, to get a true and exact information of ourselves than 

 of others. For that oracle, &quot;Know thyself,&quot; is not only a 

 rule of general prudence, but has also a principal place in 

 politics. And St. James excellently observes of mankind, 

 that &quot;he who views his face in a glass, instantly forgets his 

 features.&quot; T4 Whence we had need be often looking. And 

 this also holds in politics. But there is a difference in 

 glasses the divine one, wherein we are to behold ourselves, 

 is the Word of Grod; but the political glass is no other than 

 the state of things and times wherein we live. A man, 

 therefore, must make a thorough examination, not partially 

 like a self-lover, into his own faculties, powers, and abilities, 

 and again into his defects, inabilities, and obstacles, sum 

 ming up the account, so as to make the latter constantly 

 appear greater^ and the former rather less than they are. 

 And upon such an examination the following particulars 

 may come to be considered. 



Let the first particular be, how far a man s manners and 

 temper suit with the times; for if they agree in all respects, 

 he may act more freely and at large, and follow the bent 

 of his genius; but if there be any contrariety, then he must 

 walk more cautiously and covertly in the whole scene of 

 his life, and appear less in public, as Tiberius did, who, 

 being conscious that his temper suited not with the age, 

 never frequented the public shows, and for the last twelve 

 years of his life came not to the Senate; whereas Augus 

 tus lived continually in open sight. 75 



Let the second consideration be, how a man can relish 

 the professions or kinds of life in Use and repute, out of 

 which he is to make a choice, so that if his profession be not 

 already entered upon, he may take that which is most suit 

 able to his genius : but if he be already got into a kind of 

 life for which he is unlit, that he may, upon the first oppor 

 tunity, quit it and take to another as Valentine Borgia did, 



14 Ep. i. 23, 24. 



w The expression of Tacitus is, &quot;alia Tiberio morum via.&quot; Annals, i. 54. 



