128 BACON'S ESSAYS 



that attribute, to the disadvantage of their greater virtues. 

 It is loss also in business to be too full of respects, or to be 

 curious in observing times and opportunities. Solomon 

 saith, * He that considereth the wind shall not sow, and he 

 that looketh to the clouds shall not reap/ A wise man 

 will make more opportunities than he finds. Men's 

 behaviour should be like their apparel, not too strait or 

 point device, but free for exercise or motion. 



LIII 

 OF PRAISE 



PRAISE is the reflexion of virtue. But it is as the glass or 

 body which giveth the reflexion. If it be from the common 

 people, it is commonly false and naught ; and rather 

 folio weth vain persons than virtuous. For the common 

 people understand not many excellent virtues. The 

 lowest virtues draw praise from them ; the middle virtues 

 work in them astonishment or admiration ; but of the 

 highest virtues they have no sense of perceiving at all. 

 But shews, and species virtutibus similes, serve best with them. 

 Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light 

 and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid. But if 

 persons of quality and judgment concur, then it is (as the 

 Scripture saith), Nomen bonum ins tar unguenti fragrantis. 

 It filleth all round about, and will not easily away. For 

 the odours of ointments are more durable than those of 

 flowers. 



There be so many false points of praise, that a man may 

 justly hold it a suspect. Some praises proceed merely of 

 flattery ; and if he be an ordinary flatterer, he will have 

 certain common attributes, which may serve every man ; if 

 he be a cunning flatterer, he will follow the arch-flatterer, 

 which is a man's self; and wherein a man thinketh best of 

 himself, therein the flatterer will uphold him most : but if 

 he be an impudent flatterer, look wherein a man is 

 conscious to himself that he is most defective, and is most 



