254 BACON 



Aphorism 31 



Be not over-righteous, nor make thyself over-wise: for why 

 shouldst thou suddenly be taken off q 



There are times, says Tacitus, wherein great virtues meet 

 with certain ruin.r And this happens to men eminent for virtue 

 and justice, sometimes suddenly, and sometimes after it was 

 long foreseen. But if prudence be also joined, so as to make 

 such men cautious and watchful of their own safety, then they 

 gain thus much, that their ruin shall come suddenly, and en- 

 tirely from secret and dark counsels whence they may escape 

 envy, and meet destruction unexpected. But for that over- 

 righteousness expressed in the aphorism, it is not understood 

 of virtue itself, in which there is no excess, but of a vain and 

 invidious affectation and show thereof, like what Tacitus in- 

 timates of Lepidus making it a kind of miracle that he never 

 gave any servile opinion, and yet stood safe in severe times.s 



Aphorism 32 



Give occasion to a wise man, and his zvisdom will be increased * 



This aphorism distinguishes between that wisdom which has 

 grown up and ripened into a true habit, and that which only 

 floats in the brain, or is tossed upon the tongue without having 

 taken root. The former, when occasion offers, is presently 

 roused, got ready, and distended, so as to appear greater than 

 itself ; whereas the latter, which was pert before, stands amazed 

 and confounded when occasion calls for it : so that the person 

 who thought himself endowed with this wisdom, begins to 

 question whether his preconceptions about it were not mere 

 dreams and empty speculations. 



Aphorism 33 



To praise one's friend aloud, rising early, Has the same effect as 

 cursing hint u> 



Moderate and sensible praises, dropped occasionally, are of 

 great service to the reputation and fortunes of men; whilst 

 immoderate, noisy, and fulsome praises do no good, but rather 

 hurt, as the aphorism expresses it. For, I. they plainly betray 

 themselves to proceed from an excess of good-will, or to be 

 purposely designed rather to gain favor with the person by 



