368 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



propensity of their nature than from their ends in view. 

 Whence princes also, though for a quite different reason, 

 are best judged by their tempers as private persons are by 

 their ends ; for princes, who are at the top of human desires, 

 have seldom any ends to aspire after with ardor and perse 

 verance, by the situation and distance whereof a direction 

 and measure might be taken of their other actions. And 

 this among others is a principal reason why their hearts, 

 as the Scripture declares, are unsearchable. 70 But every 

 private man is like a traveller, who proceeds intently to the 

 end of his journey, where he sets up: hence one may toler 

 ably conjecture what a private man will or will not do; for 

 if a thing be conducive to his ends, it is probable he will 

 do it; and vice versa. And this information, from the 

 diversity of the ends and natures of men, may be taken 

 comparatively as well as simply, so as to discover what 

 humor or disposition overrules the rest. Thus Tigellinus, 

 when he found himself outdone by Turpilianus, in admin 

 istering and suggesting to Nero s pleasures, searched, as 

 Tacitus says, into the fears of Nero, and by this means got 

 rid of his rival. 71 



As for that second-hand knowledge of men s minds 

 which is had from the relation of others, it will be suffi 

 cient to observe of it, that defects and vices are best learned 

 from enemies, virtues and abilities from friends, manners 

 and times from servants, and opinions and thoughts from 

 intimate acquaintance; for popular fame is light, and the 

 judgment of superiors uncertain, Jpefore whom men walk 

 more masked and secret. The truest character comes from 

 domestics &quot;Yerior fama e domesticis emanat. &quot; &quot; 



But the shortest way to this whole inquiry rests upon 

 three particulars; viz. 1. In procuring numerous friend- 



70 Prov. xxv. 3. 



71 This expression occurs Tacit. Annal. xiv. 57. It is spoken, however, of 

 the intrigues of Tigellinus against Plautus and Sulla, by which he induced Nero 

 to have both of them murdered, Petronius Turpilianus was put to death by 

 Gaiba because he had enjoyed Nero s confidence. Annal. xvi. 18, 19. 



&quot; Cicero, Petit. Consul. 



