g BACON 



in their nature demonstrative, what conjectural; and teaches 

 the use of distinctions and exceptions, as well as the rigidness 

 of principles and rules. If it misleads, by the unsuitableness of 

 examples, it shows the force of circumstances, the errors of 

 comparisons, and the cautions of application; so that in all 

 cases, it rectifies more effectually than it perverts : and these 

 remedies it conveys into the mind much more effectually by the 

 force and variety of examples. Let a man look into the errors 

 of Clement VII, so livelily described by Guicciardini ; or 

 into those of Cicero, described by himself in his epistles to At- 

 ticus, and he will fly from being irresolute : let him look into the 

 errors of Phocion, and he will beware of obstinacy or inflexi- 

 bility : let him read the fable of Ixion,w and it will keep him from 

 conceitedness : let him look into the errors of the second Cato, 

 and he will never tread opposite to the worlds 



4. For the pretence that learning disposes to retirement, 

 privacy, and sloth ; it were strange if what accustoms the mind 

 to perpetual motion and agitation should induce indolence; 

 whereas no kind of men love business, for its own sake, but the 

 learned; whilst others love it for profit, as hirelings for the 

 wages ; others for honor ; others because it bears them up in 

 the eyes of men, and refreshes their reputations, which would 

 otherwise fade; or because it reminds them of their fortune, 

 and gives them opportunities of revenging and obliging ; or be- 

 cause it exercises some faculty, wherein they delight, and so 

 keeps them in good humor with themselves. Whence, as false 

 valor lies in the eyes of the beholders, such men's industry 

 lies in the eyes of others, or is exercised with a view to their 

 own designs ; whilst the learned love business, as an action ac- 

 cording to nature, and agreeable to the health of the mind, as 

 exercise is to that of the body : so that, of all men, they are the 

 most indefatigable in such business as may deservedly fill and 

 employ the mind. And if there are any laborious in study, yet 

 idle in business, this proceeds either from a weakness of body, 

 or a softness of disposition, and not from learning itself, as 

 Seneca remarks, " Quidam tarn sunt umbratiles ut putent in 

 turbido esse, quicquid in luce est."w The consciousness of 

 such a disposition may indeed incline a man to learning, 

 but learning does not breed any such temper in him. 



If it be objected, that learning takes up much time, which 

 might be better employed, I answer that the most active or busy 



