278 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



fail there, too, how shall we get up again ?&quot; And the foun 

 dation of the color lies here, that human actions are so un 

 certain and exposed to danger, that the best condition seems 

 to be that which has most outlets. And this persuasion 

 turns upon such forms as these You shall engage yourself; 

 You shall not be your own carver; You shall keep the mat 

 ter in your hands, etc. ai 



The fallacy of the sophism lies here: 1. Because fortune 

 presses so close upon human affairs, that some resolution is 

 necessary; for not to resolve is to resolve, so that irresolu 

 tion frequently entangles us in necessities more than resolv 

 ing. And this seems to be a disease of the mind, like to 

 that of covetousness, only transferred from the desire of 

 possessing riches to the desire of free will and power: for 

 as the covetous man enjoys no part of his possessions, for 

 fear of lessening them, so the unresolved man executes noth 

 ing, that he may not abridge his freedom and power of act 

 ing. 2. Because necessity and the fortune of the throw adds 

 a spur to the mind; whence that saying, &quot;In other respects 

 equal, but in necessity superior.&quot; 2a 



VIII. That evil we bring upon ourselves, is greater; and that proceeding from 



without us, less 



Because remorse of conscience doubles adversity, as a 

 consciousness of one s own innocence is a great support 

 in affliction whence the poets exaggerate those sufferings 

 most, and paint them leading to despair, wherein the person 

 accuses and tortures himself. 



&quot;Seque unam clamat causamque, caputque malorum.&quot; 23 



On the other side, persons lessen and almost annihilate their 

 misfortunes, by reflecting upon their own innocence and 

 merit. Besides, when the evil comes from without, it leaves 



21 Sertorius having so far obstructed Pompey as to burn one of the towns of 

 his allies in his sight, without experiencing from him the slightest opposition, 

 added, with scorn, &quot;I will teach this young scholar of Sylla, that it is more 

 necessary for a general to look behind than before him&quot; a piece of advice, 

 we need hardly say, since the whole of life is a combat, as applicable to civil 

 as to military warfare. Ed. 



22 Livy, iv. 28. 2 * ^Eneid, xii. 600. 



