388 KOVUM ORGANUM. [BOOK I 



unanimity, for if men were all to become even Tmiformly mad, 

 they might agree tolerably well with each other. 



XXVIII. Anticipations, again, will be assented to much more 

 readily than interpretations, because being deduced from a few 

 instances, and these principally of familiar occurrence, they im 

 mediately hit the understanding and satisfy the imagination ; 

 whilst on the contrary interpretations, being deduced from 

 various subjects, and these widely dispersed, cannot suddenly 

 strike the understanding, so that in common estimation they 

 must appear difficult and discordant, and alniost Jike the mys 

 teries of faith, 



AA1A.&quot; In sciences founded on opinions and dogmas, it is 

 right to make use of anticipalions and logic if you wish to force 

 assent rather than things. 



XXX. If all thtTcapacities of all ages should unite and com 

 bine and transmit their labours, no great progress will be made 

 in learning by anticipations, because the radical errors, and those 

 \\ iiich occur in the first process of the mind, are not cured by 

 the excellence of subsequent means and remedies. 



XXXI. It is in vain to expect any great progress in the 

 sciences by the superinducing or engrafting new matters upon 

 old. An instauratioa must be made from the very foundations, 

 if we do not wish to revolve for ever in a circle, making only 

 some slight and contemptible progress. 



XXXII. The ancient authors and all others are left in undis 

 puted possession of their honours ; for we enter into no compa 

 rison of capacity or talent, but of method, and assume the part 

 of a guide rather than of a critic. 



XXXIII. To speak plainly, no correct judgment can bo 

 formed either of our method or its discoveries by those anticipa 

 tions which are now in common use ; for it is not to be required 

 of us to submit ourselves to the judgment of the very method 

 we ourselves arraign. 



XXXIV. Nor is it an easy matter to deliver and explain our 

 sentiments ; for those things which are in themselves new can 

 yet be only understood from some analogy to what is old. 



XXXV. Alexander Borgia* said of the expedition of the 

 French into Italy that they came with chalk in their hands to 

 mark up their lodgings, and not with weapons to force their 

 passage. Even so do we wish our philosophy to make its way 

 quietly into those minds that are fit for it, and of good capacity; 

 for we have no need of contention where we differ in first prin- 



e This r&amp;gt;orgia was Alexander VI., and the expedition alluded to that 

 in which Charles VIII. overran the Italian peninsula in five months. 

 Bacoii uses the same illustration in concluding his survey of natural 

 milo-jophy, iu the second book of the &quot;De Augmentis.&quot; Ed, 



