ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



295 



For 



PRAISE 



Against 



Praise is the reflected ray of virtue. 



Praise is honor obtained by free 

 voices. 



Many states confer honors, but 

 praise always proceeds from liberty. 



The voice of the people hath some 

 thing of divine, else how should so 

 many become of one mind ? 



No wonder if the commonalty speak 

 truer than the nobility, because they 

 speak with less danger. 



Fame makes a quick messenger but 

 a rash judge. 



What has a good man to do with 

 the breath of the vulgar ? 



Fame, like a river, buoys up things 

 light and swollen, but drowns those 

 that are weighty. 



Low virtues gain the praise of the 

 vulgar, ordinary ones astonish them, 

 but of the highest they have no 

 feeling. 



Praise is got by bravery more than 

 merit, and given rather to the vain 

 and empty than to the worthy and 

 substantial. 



For 



He who attempts great matters with 

 small means hopes for opportunity to 

 keep him in heart,. 



Slender provision buys wit, but not 

 fortune. 



For 



PREPARATION Against 



The first occasion is the best prepa 

 ration. 



Fortune is not to be fettered in the 

 chains of preparation. 



The interchange of preparation and 

 action are politic, but the separation of 

 them ostentatious and unsuccessful. 



Great preparation is a prodigal both 

 of time and business. 



PRIDE 



Pride is inconsistent even with vice ; 

 and as poison expels poison, so are 

 many vices expelled by pride. 



An easy nature is subject to other 

 men s vices, but a proud one only to 

 its own. 



Pride, if it rise from a contempt of 

 others to a contempt of itself, at length 

 becomes philosophy. 



For READINESS 



That is unseasonable wisdom which 

 is not ready. 



He who errs suddenly, suddenly 

 reforms his error. 



To be wise upon deliberation, and 



Pride is the ivy of virtue. 



Other vices are only opposites to 

 virtues, but pride is even contagious. 



Pride wants the best condition of 

 vice, concealment. 



A proud man, while he despises 

 others, neglects himself. 



Against 



That knowledge is not deep fetched 

 which lies ready at hand. 



Wisdom is like a garment, lightest 

 when readiest. 



They whose counsels are not 



