22 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



hension of duty, nor ever look abroad into universality, do 

 refer all things to themselves, and thrust themselves into the 

 centre of the world, as if all lines should meet in them and 

 their fortunes ; never caring, in all tempests, what becomes 

 of the ship of estates, so they may save themselves in the 

 cockboat of their own fortune : whereas men that feel the 

 weight of duty, and know the limits of self-love, use to make 

 good their places and duties, though with peril ; and if they 

 stand in seditious and violent alterations, it is rather the 



10 reverence which many times both adverse parts do give to 

 honesty, than any versatile advantage of their own carriage. 

 But for this point of tender sense, and fast obligation of 

 duty, which learning doth endue the mind withal, howsoever 

 fortune may tax it, and many in the depth of their corrupt 

 principles may despise it, yet it will receive an open allow 

 ance, and therefore needs the less disproof or excusation. 



Another fault incident commonly to learned men, which 

 may be more probably defended than truly denied, is, that 

 they fail sometimes in applying themselves to particular 



20 persons : which want of exact application ariseth from two 

 causes ; the one, because the largeness of their mind can 

 hardly confine itself to dwell in the exquisite observation or 

 examination of the nature and customs of one person : for it 

 is a speech for a lover, and not for a wise man, Satis magnum\ ^^ 

 alter alteri theatrum sumus : [ We are a sufficiently large theatre] 

 one for another^ Nevertheless I shall yield, that he that 

 cannot contract the sight of his mind, as well as disperse and 

 dilate it, wanteth a great faculty. But there is a second 

 cause, which is no inability, but a rejection upon choice and 



30 judgment. For the honest and just bounds of observation 

 by one person upon another, extend no further but to under 

 stand him sufficiently, whereby not to give him offence, or 

 whereby to be able to give him faithful counsel, or whereby 

 to stand upon reasonable guard and caution in respect of a 

 man's self : but to be speculative into another man, to the 

 end to know how to work him, or wind him, or govern him, 



