ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 181 



performed, it clears the judgment, and makes it less apt to slip 

 into error. 



Sophism i 



W hat men praise and celebrate, is good; what they dispraise 

 and censure, evil 



This sophism deceives four ways; viz., either through ig- 

 norance, deceit, party, or the natural disposition of the praiser 

 or dispraiser. i. Through ignorance; for what signifies the 

 judgment of the rabble in distinguishing good and evil ? Pho- 

 cion took it right, who, being applauded by the multitude, 

 asked, What he had done amiss ?k 2. Through deceit; for 

 those who praise or dispraise commonly have their own views 

 in it, and speak not their real sentiments. 



" Laudat venales, qui vult extrudcre, merces." Horace./ 



" It is faulty, it is faulty, says the buyer ; but when he is gone, 

 he congratulates himself upon the bargain. "m 3. Through 

 party ; for men immoderately extol those of their own and de- 

 press those of the opposite party. 4. Through disposition or 

 temper; for some men are naturally formed servile and fawn- 

 ing, and others captious and morose ; so that when such per- 

 sons praise or dispraise, they do but gratify their humor, with- 

 out much regard to truth. 



Sophism 2 



What is commended, even by an enemy, is a great good; but 

 what is censured, even by a friend, a great evil 



The fallacy seems to lie here, that it is easily believed the 

 force of truth extorts from us what we speak against our incli- 

 nation. 



This color deceives the subtilty both of friends and enemies. 

 For praises of enemies are not always against their will, nor 

 forced from them by truth ; but they choose to bestow them 

 where they may create envy or danger to their adversary. 

 Hence the foolish conceit was current among the Greeks, that 

 he who was praised by another with malicious intent, never 

 failed to have his nose disfigured with a pustule. Again this 

 color deceives, because enemies sometimes use praises like pref- 

 aces, that they may the more freely calumniate afterwards. 

 On the other side, it deceives by the craft of friends, who also 



