L I B. I. Of the Advancement of Learning. 1 2 



gence when I conlider, as weil in the culture of knowledge, as infor- 

 mation of manners, the faying of AgefiUus touching rharaabazMs comes 

 into my mind, Talis cum fis iitinamvojlcr ejfes. And thus much con- P'"^- '-^ 

 cernine the dilcredits drawn from the Fortunes and Condition of Learn- ^^ ' * 

 ed men. 



III. As touching the Manners of Learned men^ it is a thing belonging 

 rather to their individual Perlbns, than their ftudies and point of learn- 

 ing : No doubt there is found among them, as in all other Profeffions, 

 and Conditions of life, men of all temperatures, as well bad as good, 

 but yet fo, as it is not without truth that is faid, abire Jiudia in mores ; 

 and that Learning and Studies, unlefs they fall upon I'ery depraved 

 difpofitions, have an influence and operation upon the manners of 

 thofe that are converfant in them, to reform nature and change it to 

 the better. 



§ But upon an attentive and indifferent review, I for my part, can 

 not find any difgrace to learning can proceed from the Manners of 

 Learned men., adherent tuito them as they are Learned 5 unlefs peradven- 

 ture it be a fault fwhich was the fuppofed fault of Dcmoflhencs^ Cicero^ 

 Cato the fccond, Seneca, and many more) that becaufe the times they 

 read of, are commonly better, than the times they live in ; and the 

 duties taught, better than the duties praftifed^ they contend too far^ to 

 reduce the corruption of manners to the honeliy oj precepts, and prefcripts, 

 of a too great htght, and to impoft the Laws of ancient feuerity upon dif- 

 folute times: and yet they have Caveats enough touching this aufterity 

 out of their own fprings : For Solon, when he was asked Whether he had p^.^ . 

 given his Ciiizens the heli laws > the be^ ffaid he) offuch as they would Solon. 

 receive. So rlato, finding that his own heart conld not agree with the 

 corrupt manners of his Country, refufed to bear place or office, faying, 

 That a mans Country is to be ufcd as his Parents were, that is, with per- j„ ^-^^ ^^ 

 fwafion and not ivith violence, by entreating and not by contejiing : And epift. ali-" 

 Ctejars counfelor put in the fame caveat, faying, non ad vetera inllituta ^'■• 

 revocans qu£ jampridem corruptis moribus ludibrio ftint : And Cicero c'^%x( 

 notes this error direcily in Cato the fecond , writing to his friend Atti- saiuft. ad 

 cus, Cato optime fcntit fed nocet interdtim Reipub. loquitur enimtanquam ^j^"*. 

 inRepub. Tldtonis,no% tanquam inf<cce Romuli. The fame Cicero doth iib.j. ep.i,' 

 excufe and expound the Philofophers for going too far, and being too 

 exaft in their Prefcripts , Thefejame Pneceptors and Teachers, ("faith he) p^^ j^ 

 feem to havejiretched out the line and limits of Duties fomcwbat beyond the Muraena. 

 natural bounds, that when we had laboured to reach the highcft point ofPer- 

 fe&ion, we might rcji where it was meet : and yet himfelf might fay, A^o- 

 kitis Jam minor ipfe meis j for he ftumbled at the fame flone , though 

 in not lb extreme a degree. 



§ Another fault which perchance not undefervedly is objected a- 

 g?.inft Learned men, is th\s,that they have preferred the honour and profit of 

 ihcir Country, and Mijlers before thciY own fortunes and fafcties. So De- 

 molihenes to his Athenians, My Counfels ffaith he ) if you plcafe to note . 

 7t, are not juch whereby I Jbould grow great amongst you, yon become lit- Cdona. 

 tie amongfi the Grecians ; but they be of that nature as are fometimes not 

 good for mc to give, but arc always good for you to follow. So Seneca ^f- 

 ter he had confecrated that ^inqucnnium Neronis to theetcrnnl j!;lory 

 of Learned Governors, held on his honefl: and loyal courfc of Good 



and 



