2 02 The Advancement of Learning 



no part of that which he purposed, yet to turn the use of it 

 to somewhat else; and if he cannot make anything of it for 

 the present, yet to make it as a seed of somewhat in time 

 to come ; and if he can contrive no effect or substance from 

 it, yet to win some good opinion by it, or the hke. So that 

 he should exact an account of himself of every action, to 

 reap somewhat, and not to stand amazed and confused if 

 he fail of that he chiefly meant: for nothing is more im- 

 poHtic than to mind actions wholly one by one. For he 

 that doth so leeseth infinite occasions which intervene, and 

 are many times more proper and propitious for somewhat 

 that he shall need afterwards, than for that which he urgeth 

 for the present; and therefore men must be perfect in that 

 rule, HcBc oportet facer e, et ilia non omittere.^ 



41. Another precept of this knowledge is, not to engage a 

 man's self peremptorily in anything, though it seem not 

 hable to accident; but ever to have a window to fly out at, 

 or a way to retire: following the wisdom in the ancient 

 fable of the two frogs, which consulted when their plash 

 was dry whither they should go ; and the one moved to go 

 down into a pit, because it was not likely the water would 

 dry there ; but the other answered, True, but if it do, how 

 shall we get out again ? 



42. Another precept of this knowledge is, that ancient pre- 

 cept of Bias, construed not to any point of perfidiousness, 

 but only to caution and moderation, Et ama tanquam 

 inimicUs futurus, et odi tanquam amaturus ; ^ for it utterly 

 betrayeth all utility for men to embark themselves too far 

 in unfortunate friendships, troublesome spleens, and childish 

 and humorous envies or emulations. 



43. But I continue this beyond the measure of an example; 

 led, because I would not have such knowledges, which I 

 note as deficient, to be thought things imaginative or in 

 the air, or an observation or two much made of, but things 

 of bulk and mass, whereof an end is hardHer made than a 

 beginning. It must be likewise conceived, that in these 

 points which I mention and set down, they are far from 

 complete tractates of them, but only as small pieces for 

 patterns. And lastly, no man, I suppose, will think that 

 I mean fortunes are not obtained without all this ado ; for 

 I know they come timibling into some men's laps; and a 



^ Matth. xxiii. 23. » Aristot. Rhet. ii. 13, 4. 



