378 ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING 



the logical part of their mind set right and the mathematical 

 wrong, and judge truly of the consequences of things, but 

 very unskilfully of their value. Hence some men are fond 

 of access to and familiarity with princes; others of popular 

 fame, and fancy these to be great enjoyments; whereas both 

 of them are frequently full of envy and dangers. Others, 

 again, measure things according to their difficulty and the 

 labor bestowed in procuring them, imagining themselves 

 must needs have advanced as far as they have moved. So 

 Caesar, to describe how diligent and indefatigable the 

 younger Cato was to little purpose, said in the way of 

 irony, &quot;That he did all things with great labor.&quot; And 

 hence it happens, that men frequently deceive themselves, 

 when, having the assistance of some great or honorable per 

 sonage, they promise themselves all manner of success; 

 while the truth is, they are not the greatest, but the fittest 

 instruments that perform business best and quickest. For 

 improving the true mathematics of the mind, it should be 

 principally noted what ought to come first, what second, 

 etc., in the raising and promoting a man s fortune. And, 

 in the first place, we set down the emendation of the mind; 

 for by removing the obstacles, and levelling the inequalities 

 of the mind, a way may be sooner opened to fortune, than 

 the impediments of the mind be removed with the assistance 

 of fortune. And, in the second place, we set down riches, 

 whereto most, perhaps, would have assigned the first, as 

 their use is so extensive. But we condemn this opinion for 

 a reason like that of Machiavel in a similar case ; for though 

 it was an established notion, that &quot;Money is the sinews of 

 war,&quot; he said, more justly, that &quot;War had no sinews but 

 those of good soldiers.&quot; In the same manner, it may be 

 truly affirmed that the sinews of fortune are not money, but 

 rather the powers of the mind, address, courage, resolution, 

 intrepidity, perseverance, moderation, industry, etc. In the 

 third place come fame and reputation ; and this the rather, 

 because they have certain tides and seasons, wherein, if they 

 be not opportunely used, it will be difficult to recover hem 



