3 66 BACON 



tween men's lives in the most polished countries of Europe, and 

 in any wild and barbarous region of the new Indies, he will 

 think it so great, that man may be said to be a god unto man, not 

 only on account of mutual aid and benefits, but from their com- 

 parative states the result of the arts, and not of the soil or 

 climate. 



Again, we should notice the force, effect, and consequences 

 of inventions, which are nowhere more conspicuous than in 

 those three which were unknown to the ancients ; namely, print- 

 ing, gunpowder, and the compass. For these three have 

 changed the appearance and state of the whole world : first in 

 literature, then in warfare, and lastly in navigation; and in- 

 numerable changes have been thence derived, so that no em- 

 pire, sect, or star, appears to have exercised a greater power 

 and influence on human affairs than these mechanical dis- 

 coveries. 



It will, perhaps, be as well to distinguish three species and 

 degrees of ambition. First, that of men who are anxious to 

 enlarge their own power in their country, which is a vulgar and 

 degenerate kind ; next, that of men who strive to enlarge the 

 power and empire of their country over mankind, which is more 

 dignified but not less covetous ; but if one were to endeavor to 

 renew and enlarge the power and empire of mankind in general 

 over the universe, such ambition (if it may be so termed) is both 

 more sound and more noble than the other two. Now the em- 

 pire of man over things is founded on the arts and sciences 

 alone, for nature is only to be commanded by obeying her. 



Besides this, if the benefit of any particular invention has had 

 such an effect as to induce men to consider him greater than a 

 man, who has thus obliged the whole race, how much more ex- 

 alted will that discovery be, which leads to the easy discovery of 

 everything else! Yet (to speak the truth) in the same manner 

 as we are very thankful for light which enables us to enter on 

 our way, to practise arts, to read, to distinguish each other, and 

 yet sight is more excellent and beautiful than the various uses of 

 light ; so is the contemplation of things as they are, free from 

 superstition or imposture, error or confusion, much more digni- 

 fied in itself than all the advantage to be derived from dis- 

 coveries. 



^Lastly, let none be alarmed at the objection of the arts and 

 sciences becoming depraved to malevolent or luxurious purposes 

 and the like, for the same can be said of every worldly good ; 

 talent, courage, strength, beauty, riches, light itself, and the 

 rest. Only let mankind regain their rights over nature, assigned 

 to them by the gift of God, and obtain that power, whose exer- 

 cise will be governed by right reason and true religion. 



130. But it is time for us to lay down the art of interpreting 



