134 The Advancement of Learning 



10. Let us consider again the false appearances imposed 

 upon us by every man's own individual nature and custom,^ 

 in that feigned supposition that Plato ^ maketh of the 

 cave: for certainly if a child were continued in a grot or 

 cave under the earth until maturity of age, and came 

 suddenly abroad, he would have strange and absurd 

 imaginations. So in like manner, although our persons live 

 in the view of heaven, yet our spirits are included in the 

 caves of our own complexions and customs, which minister 

 unto us infinite errors and vain opinions, if they be not 

 recalled to examination. But hereof we have given many 

 examples in one of the errors, or peccant humours, whicjfi 



^^e ran briefly over in our first book. 



^y And lastly, let us consider the false appearances that are 

 imposed upon us by words, which are framed and applied 

 according to the conceit and capacities of the vulgar sort : 

 and although we think we govern our words, and prescribe 

 it well, loquendum ut vulgus, sentiendum ut sapientes ; yet 

 certain it is that words, as a Tartar's bow, do shoot back 

 upon the understanding of the wisest, and mightily en- 

 tangle and pervert the judgment. So as it is almost neces- 

 sary in all controversies and disputations to imitate the 

 wisdom of the mathematicians, in setting down in the very 

 beginning the definitions of our words and terms that 

 others may know how we accept and understand them, 

 and whether they concur with us or no. For it cometh to 

 pass for want of this that we are sure to end there where 

 we ought to have begun, which is, in questions and differ- 

 ences about words. To conclude therefore, it must be 

 confessed that it is not possible to divorce ourselves from 

 these fallacies and false appearances, because they are in- 

 separable from our nature and condition of life; so yet 

 nevertheless the caution of them, (for all elenches, as was 

 said, are but cautions,) doth extremely import the true 

 conduct of human judgment. The particular elenches or 

 cautions against these three false appearances, I find 

 altogether deficient. 

 12. There remaineth one part of judgment of great excellency, 

 which to mine understanding is so slightly touched, as I 

 may report that also deficient ; which is the application of 



» " Idols " of the Cave, Nov. Org. i. 31-35. 

 • Plato, De Rep. lib. vii. init. 



