NOVUM ORGANUM 341 



antiquity, and this is rather the character of our own times than 

 of the less advanced age of the world in those of the ancients ; 

 for the latter, with respect to ourselves, are ancient and elder, 

 with respect to the world modern and younger. And as we 

 expect a greater knowledge of human affairs, and more mature 

 judgment from an old man than from a youth, on account of his 

 experience, and the variety and number of things he has seen, 

 heard, and meditated upon, so we have reason to expect much 

 greater things of our own age (if it knew but its strength and 

 would essay and exert it) than from antiquity, since the world 

 has grown older, and its stock has been increased and accu- 

 mulated with an infinite number of experiments and observa- 

 tions. 



We must also take into our consideration that many objects 

 in nature fit to throw light upon philosophy have been exposed 

 to our view, and discovered by means of long voyages and trav- 

 els, in which our times have abounded. It would, indeed, be 

 dishonorable to mankind, if the regions of the material globe, 

 the earth, the sea, and stars, should be so prodigiously devel- 

 oped and illustrated in our age, and yet the boundaries of the 

 intellectual globe should be confined to the narrow discoveries 

 of the ancients. 



With regard to authority, it is the greatest weakness to at- 

 tribute infinite credit to particular authors, and to refuse his own 

 prerogative to time, the author of all authors, and, therefore, of 

 all authority. For truth is rightly named the daughter of time, 

 not of authority. It is not wonderful, therefore, if the bonds 

 of antiquity, authority, and unanimity, have so enchained the 

 power of man, that he is unable (as if bewitched) to become 

 familiar with things themselves. 



85. Nor is it only the admiration of antiquity, authority, and 

 unanimity, that has forced man's industry to rest satisfied with 

 present discoveries, but, also, the admiration of the effects al- 

 ready placed within his power. For whoever passes in review 

 the variety of subjects, and the beautiful apparatus collected 

 and introduced by the mechanical arts for the service of man- 

 kind, will certainly be rather inclined to admire our wealth than 

 to perceive our poverty : not considering that the observations 

 of man and operations of nature (which are the souls and first 

 movers of that variety) are few, and not of deep research ; the 

 rest must be attributed merely to man's patience, and the deli- 

 cate and well regulated motion of the hand or of instruments. 

 To take an instance, the manufacture of clocks is delicate and 

 accurate, and appears to imitate the heavenly bodies in its 

 wheels, and the pulse of animals in its regular oscillation, yet 

 it only depends upon one or two axioms of nature. 



Again, if one consider the refinement of the liberal arts, or 



