NOVUM ORGANUM 367 



nature, to which we attribute no absolute necessity (as if noth- 

 ing could be done without it) nor perfection, although we think 

 that our precepts are most useful and correct. For we are of 

 opinion, that if men had at their command a proper history of 

 nature and experience, and would apply themselves steadily to 

 it, and could bind themselves to two things: i. to lay aside 

 received opinions and notions ; 2. to restrain themselves, till the 

 proper season, from generalization, they might, by the proper 

 and genuine exertion of their minds, fall into our way of inter- 

 pretation without the aid of any art. For interpretation is the 

 true and natural act of the mind, when all obstacles are re- 

 moved : certainly, however, everything will be more ready and 

 better fixed by our precepts. 



Yet do we not affirm that no addition can be made to them ; 

 on the contrary, considering the mind in its connection with 

 things, and not merely relatively to its own powers, we ought to 

 be persuaded that the art of invention can be made to grow with 

 the inventions themselves. 



