62 ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING, [BOOE L 



as these arts were a kind of elder and favourite children with 

 them. So the alchemists have made a philosophy from a few 

 experiments of the furnace, and Gilbert another out of the 

 loadstone : in like manner, Cicero, when reviewing the 

 opinions on the nature of the soul, coming to that of a 

 musician, who held the soul was but an harmony, he plea- 

 santly said, "This man has not gone out of his art."^ But 

 of such authors Aristotle says well : " Those who take in but 

 a few considerations easily decide." y 



Another error is, an impatience of doubting and a blind 

 hurry of asserting without a mature suspension of judgment. 

 For the two w^ays of contemplation are like the two ways of 

 action so frequently mentioned by the ancients ; the one 

 plain and easy at first, but in the end impassable ; the other 

 rough and fatiguing in the entrance, but soon after fair and 

 even : so in contemplation, if we begin with certainties, we 

 shall end in doubts ; but if we begin with doubts, and are 

 patient in them, we shall end in certainties. 



Another error lies in the manner of delivering knowledge, 

 which is g^enerally magisterial and peremptory, not ingenuous 

 and open, but suited to gain belief without examination. 

 And in compendious treatises for practice, this form should 

 not be disallowed ; but in the true delivering of knowledge, 

 both extremes are to be avoided ; viz., that of Velleius the 

 .Epicurean, who feared nothing so much as the non-appear- 

 ance of doubting;"^ and that of Socrates and the Academics, 

 who ironically doubted of all things : but the true way is to 

 propose things candidly, with more or less asseveration, as 

 they stand in a man's own judgment. 



There are other errors in the scope that men propose to 

 themselves : for whereas the more diligent professors of any 

 science ought chiefly to endeavour the making some additions 

 or improvements therein, they aspire only to certain second 

 prizes ; as to be a profound commentator, a sharp disputant, 

 a methodical compiler, or abridger, whence the returns 

 or revenue.^ of knowledge are sometimes increased, but not 

 the inheritance and stock. 



^iit the greatest error of all is, mistaking the ultimate en^ 



* "Hie ab arte sua non recessit." — ^Tuscul Qusest. i. c. 10, 

 y Arist. De Gener. et Corrup. lib. 1. 



* tJlcerp; Pe Natura Deoruui, i. c. 8. 



