392 srovtJM orgai^uiL fsooK t 



objects of our senses. The relative raritj oi ttie elements (as 

 they are called) is arbitrarily made to var^-- in tenfold progres- 

 sion, with many other dreams of the like nature."* Nor is this 

 folly confined to theories, but it is to be met with even in simple 

 notions. 



XLVI. The human understanding, when any proposition has 

 been once laid down (either from general admission and belief, 

 or from the pleasure it affords), forces everything else to add 

 fresh support and confirmation ; and although most cogent and 

 abundant instances may exist to the contrary, yet either does 

 not observe or despises them, or gets rid of and rejects them by 

 some distinction, with violent and injurious prejudice, rather 

 than sacrifice the authority of its first conclusions. It was we] I 

 answered by him" who was shown in a temple the votive tablets 

 suspended by such as had escaped the peril of shipwreck, and 

 was pressed as to whether he would then recognise the power of 

 the gods, by an inquiry. But where are the portraits of those 

 who have perished in spite of their vows ? All superstition is 

 much the same, whether it be that of astrology, dreams, omens, 

 retributive judgment, or the like, in all of which the deluded 

 believers observe events which are fulfilled, but neglect and pass 

 over their failure, though it be much more common. But this 

 evil insinuates itself still more craftily in philosophy and the 

 sciences, in which a settled maxim vitiates and governs every 

 other circumstance, though the latter be much more worthy of 

 confidence. Besides, even in the absence of that eagerness and 

 want of thought (which we have mentioned), it is the peculiar 

 and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more 

 moved and excited by affirmatives than negatives, whereas it 

 ought duly and regularly to be impartial ; nay, in establishing 

 any true axiom the negative instance is the most powerful. 



XL VII. The human understanding is most excited by that 

 which strikes and enters the mind at once and suddenly, and by 

 which the imagination is immediately filled and inflated. It 

 then begins almost imperceptibly to conceive and suppose that 

 everything is similar to the few objects which have taken posses- 

 cists attributed an orbit to each of the four elements, into which they 

 resolved the universe, and supposed their spheres to involve each other. 

 The orbit of the earth was in the centre, that of fire at the circum- 

 ference. For Bacon's inquisition into the nature of heat, and its com- 

 plete failure, see the commencement of the second book of the Novura 

 Organum. Ed. 



■" Robert Fludd is the theorist alluded to, who had supposed the 



gravity of the earth to be ten times heavier than water, that of water 



ten times heavier than air, and that of air ten times heavier than fire. Ed, 



' ■ Diagoras. The same allusion occurs in the second part of the Ad« 



iranceraent of Learning, where Bacon treats of the idols of the mind. 



