270 BACON 



promise themselves all manner of success ; whilst the truth is, 

 they are not the greatest, but the fittest instruments that per- 

 form business best and quickest. For improving the true 

 mathematics of the mind, it should be principally noted what 

 ought to come first, what second, etc., in the raising and pro- 

 moting a man's fortune. And, in the first place, we set down the 

 emendation of the mind; for by removing the obstacles, and 

 levelling the inequalities of the mind, a way may be sooner 

 opened to fortune, than the impediments of the mind be re- 

 moved with the assistance of fortune. And, in the second place, 

 we set down riches, whereto most, perhaps, would have as- 

 signed the first, as their use is so extensive. But we condemn 

 this opinion for a reason like that of Machiavel in a similar case ; 

 for though it was an established notion, that " Money is the 

 sinews of war," he said, more justly, that " War had no 

 sinews but those of good soldiers." In the same manner, it 

 may be truly affirmed that the sinews of fortune are not money, 

 but rather the powers of the mind, address, courage, resolu- 

 tion, intrepidity, perseverance, moderation, industry, etc. In 

 the third place come fame and reputation ; and this the rather, 

 because they have certain tides and seasons, wherein, if they be 

 not opportunely used, it will be diffi'cult to recover them again ; 

 for it is a hopeless attempt to recover a lost reputation. In the 

 last place, we set down honors, which are easier acquired by any 

 of the former three, much more by a conjunction of them all, 

 than any one of them can be procured by honors. But as much 

 depends upon observing the order of things, so likewise in 

 observing the order of time, in disturbing of which men fre- 

 quently err and hasten to the end, when they should only have 

 consulted the beginning, and suddenly flying at the greatest 

 things of all, rashly skip over those in the middle thus neg- 

 lecting the useful precept, " Attend to what is immediately be- 

 fore you," 



" Quod mine instat agamus." Virgil.* 



Our second precept is, to beware of being carried by great- 

 ness and presumption of mind to things too difficult, and thus 

 of striving against the stream. It is a prudent advice, in the 

 raising of one's fortune, to yield to necessity. 



" Fatis accede, deisque." Lucan.* 



