80 



OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [PAGE 



and, "There is a nearer way to Heaven than Homer's chain ; an 

 easy logic may conjoin a heaven and earth in one argument, and, 

 with less than a sorites, resolve all things to God. For though 

 we christen effects by their most sensible and nearest causes, yet 

 is God the true and infallible cause of all,' etc. Rdigio Medici, 

 18- 



1. 9. let no man, etc. Let no one, under the foolish impression 

 that he is restraining his inquiries \vithin proper limits, or im 

 pelled by a mistaken moderation, etc. 



1. 12. the book of God's word is the Bible : the book of God's 

 works is nature. 



1. 13. divinity or philosophy, theology or science. 



1. 14. endeavour, attempt. We no longer use the word thus. 



1. 15. charity, see on p. (>, 1. 33. 



1. 16. swelling, pride. We talk of men being 'puffed up with 

 pride.' 



1. 17. learnings, studies,, or branches of learning. 



Pages 9-16. Bacon now proceeds to refute the ^objections 

 jr/LJf/tt ha.vej.yeen raised against learning by statesmen. 

 ' Statesmen quote autfionties~ld~ show that Learning enervates: 

 that it induces habits of mind and body which unfit wen for 

 business : and that the habit of discussion is fatal to the habit 

 of obedience. Bacon in reply says that these three objections 

 are based on exceptional instances ivhich can easily be ex 

 plained. As a matter of fact, /learning does not enervate: 

 history proves that the same individual may be both a good 

 scholar and a brave and skilful general. History too confirms 

 the natural expectation that the ages, ivhich have been most 

 distinguished for learning, would also be most distinguished for 

 still in the arts of war and government. As for the second 

 objection^ it is absurd to say that learning unfits men for the 

 work of governing. An ignorant statesman is a mere empiric, 

 no more 'to be trusted than a quack doctor. The most successful 

 governments have been those which have been directed by learned 

 i&en. Learned men may have their weaknesses, but from their 

 knowledge of history they must have learned the essential prin 

 ciples of real statesmanship. Learned men are likely to be ifie 

 most indefatigable in business, and to be the only ones who will 

 take it up for its own sake. The intervals of business will afford 

 leisure for study. A learned man may occasionally be slothful: 

 but that is not because he is learned. All ignorant men are not 

 active. 3 Lastly, learned men make the best citizens, because they 

 gee the necessity of obedience, and therefore yield it willingly. 



