152 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



some good quantity of observation : and therefore no 

 man can suffice, nor in reason will attempt, to Mi'ite 

 aphorisms, but he that is sound and grounded. But in 



methods, 



Tantum series juncturaque pellet, 

 Tantum de medio sumptis accedit honoris, 



as a man shall make a great show of an art, which, if it 

 were disjointed, would come to little. Secondly, 

 methods are more fit to win consent or belief, but less 

 fit to point to action ; for they carry a kind of demon- 

 stration in orb or circle, one part illuminating another. 

 and therefore satisfy. But particulars being dispersed 

 do best agree with dispersed directions. And lastly, 

 aphorisms, representing a knowledge broken, do invite 

 men to inquire further ; whereas methods, carrying 

 the show of a total, do secure men, as if they were at 

 furthest. 



8. Another diversity of method, which is likewise of 

 great weight, is the handling of knowledge by assertions 

 and their proofs, or by questions and their determina- 

 tions. The latter kind whereof, if it be immoderately 

 followed, is as prejudicial to the proceeding of learning, 

 as it is to the proceeding of an army to go about to 

 besiege every little fort or hold. For if the field be 

 kept, and the sum of the enterprise pursued, those 

 smaller things will come in of themselves : indeed a man 

 would not leave some important piece enemy at his 

 back. In like manner, the use of confutation in the 

 delivery of sciences ought to be very sparing ; and to 

 serve to remove strong preoccupations and prejudge- 

 ments, and not to minister and excite disputations and 

 doubts. 



9. Another diversity of methods is, according to the 

 subject or matter which is handled. For there is a 

 great difference in delivery of the mathematics, which 

 are the most abstracted of knowledges, and policy, which 

 is the most immersed. And howsoever contention hath 

 been moved, touching an uniformity of method in 

 multiformity of matter, yet we see how that opinion, 



