ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 263 



A principal caution must also be had to restrain the impetuosity 

 and too great alacrity of the mind, lest much knowledge should 

 drive us on to meddle in many matters ; for nothing is more 

 unfortunate and rash than such a procedure. Therefore the 

 variety of knowledge to be here procured of men and things 

 comes but to this, that we make a judicious choice both of the 

 matters we undertake and of the persons whose assistance we 

 use, that we may thence know how to manage and dispose all 

 things with greater dexterity and safety. 



Next to the knowledge of others comes the knowledge of 

 ourselves; and it requires no less diligence, but rather more, 

 to get a true and exact information of ourselves than others. 

 For that oracle, " Know thyself," is not only a rule of general 

 prudence, but has also a principal place in politics. And St. 

 James excellently observes of mankind, that " he who views his 

 face in a glass, instantly forgets his features." x Whence we 

 had need be often looking. And this also holds in politics. But 

 there is a difference in glasses, the divine one, wherein we are 

 to behold ourselves, is the Word of God ; but the political glass 

 is no other than the state of things and times wherein we live. 

 A man, therefore, must make a thorough examination, not 

 partially like a self-lover, into his own faculties, powers, and 

 abilities, and again into his defects, inabilities, and obstacles, 

 summing up the account, so as to make the latter constantly 

 appear greater, and the former rather less than they are. And 

 upon such an examination the following particulars may come 

 to be considered. 



Let the first particular be, how far a man's manners and 

 temper suit with the times; for if they agree in all respects, 

 he may act more freely and at large, and follow the bent of 

 his genius ; but if there be any contrariety, then he must walk 

 more cautiously and covertly in the whole scene of his life, 

 and appear less in public, as Tiberius did, who, being conscious 

 that his temper suited not with the age, never frequented the 

 public shows, and for the last twelve years of his life came not 

 to the senate ; whereas Augustus lived continually in open sight. 



Let the second consideration be, how a man can relish the 

 professions or kinds of life in use and repute, out of which 

 he is to make a choice, so that if his profession be not already 

 entered upon, he may take that which is most suitable to his 

 genius ; but if he be already got into a kind of life for which 



