170 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



so soft, but esteemeth the effecting of somewhat that he 

 hath fixed in his desire, more than sensuality ; which 

 priority of the active good, is much upheld by the con 

 sideration of our estate to be mortal and exposed to 

 fortune. For if we mought have a perpetuity and cer 

 tainty in our pleasures, the state of them would advance 

 their price. But when we see it is but magni aestimamua 

 mori tardius, and ne glorieris de crastino, nescis par- 

 turn diei, it maketh us to desire to have somewhat se 

 cured and exempted from time, which are only our deeds 

 and works : as it is said, * Opera eorum sequuntur eos.* 

 The pre-eminence likewise of this active good is upheld 

 by the affection which is natural in man towards variety 

 and proceeding ; which in the pleasures of the sense, 

 which is the principal part of passive good, can have no 

 great latitude. Cogita quamdiu eadem feceris ; cibus 

 somnus, ludus ; per hunc circulum curritur ; mori velle 

 non tantum fortis, aut miser, aut prudens, 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, progressions, 

 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, continuance ; 

 as appeareth plainly, when it findeth a contrary subject. 

 For that gigantine state of mind which possesseth 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 



