26 BACON'S ESSAYS 



integrity professed, and with a manifest detestation of 

 bribery, doth the other. And avoid not only the fault, 

 but the suspicion. Whosoever is found variable, and 

 changeth manifestly without manifest cause, giveth sus- 

 picion of corruption. Therefore always when thou changes t 

 thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, and declare it, 

 together with the reasons that move thee to change ; and 

 do not think to steal it. A servant or a favourite, if he 

 be inward, and no other apparent cause of esteem, is 

 commonly thought but a by-way to close corruption. For 

 roughness ; it is a needless cause of discontent : severity 

 breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth hate. Even re- 

 proofs from authority ought to be grave, and not taunting. 

 As for facility ; it is worse than bribery. For bribes come 

 but now and then ; but if importunity or idle respects 

 lead a man, he shall never be without. As Solomon saith, 

 ' To respect persons is not good ; for such a man will 

 transgress for a piece of bread.' It is most true that was 

 anciently spoken, 'A place sheweth the man/ And it 

 sheweth some to the better, and some to the worse. 

 Omnium consemu capax imperil, nisi imperasset, saith Tacitus 

 of Galba ; but of Vespasian he saith, Solus imperantium, 

 Vespasianus mutatus in melius ; though the one was meant 

 of sufficiency, the other of manners and affection. It is an 

 assured sign of a worthy and generous spirit, whom honour 

 amends. For honour is, or should be, the place of virtue ; 

 and as in nature things move violently to their place and 

 calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in 

 authority settled and calm. All rising to great place is by 

 a winding stair ; and if there be factions, it is good to side 

 a man's self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance him- 

 self when he is placed. Use the memory of thy predecessor 

 fairly and tenderly ; for if thou dost not, it is a debt will 

 sure be paid when thou art gone. If thou have colleagues, 

 respect them, and rather call them when they look not for 

 it, than exclude them when they have reason to look to be 

 called. Be not too sensible or too remembering of thy place 

 in conversation and private answers to suitors ; but let it 

 rather be said, ' When he sits in place he is another man.' 



