1 84 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



Pedantes have been scorned upon theatres, as the ape of 

 tyranny ; and that the modern looseness or negligence hath 

 taken no due regard to the choice of school-masters and 

 tutors ; yet the ancient wisdom of the best times did always 

 make a just complaint that states were too busy with their 

 laws and too negligent in point of education : which 

 I excellent part of ancient discipline hath been in some sort 

 revived of late times by the colleges of the Jesuits ; of 

 whom, although in regard of their superstition I may say, 

 quo meliores, eo deteriores, yet in regard of this, and some 

 other points concerning human learning and moral matters, 

 I may say, as Agesilaus said to his enemy Pharnabazus, 

 tails quum sis, utinam noster esses. And thus much touching 

 the discredits drawn from the fortunes of learned men. 



As touching the manners of learned men, it is a thing 

 personal and individual : and no doubt there be amongst 

 them, as in other professions, of all temperatures : but yet 

 so as it is not without truth which is said, that abeunt studia 

 in mores^ studies have an influence and operation upon the 

 manners of those that are conversant in them. 



But upon an attentive and indifferent review, I for my 

 part cannot find any disgrace to learning can proceed from 

 the manners of learned men ; not inherent to them as they 

 are learned ; except it be a j^uJL (which was the supposed 

 fault of Demosthenes, Cicero, Cato the second, Seneca, and 

 many more) that because the times they read of are 

 commonly better than the times they live in, and the 

 duties taught better than the duties practised, they contend 

 sometimes too far to bring things to perfection, and to 

 reduce the corruption of manners to honesty of precepts or 

 examples of too great height. And yet hereof they have 

 caveats enough in their own walks. For Solon, when he 

 was asked whether he had given his citizens the best laws, 

 answered wisely, ' Yea, of such as they would receive ' : and 

 Plato, finding that his own heart could not agree with the 

 corrupt manners of his country, refused to bear place or 

 office ; saying, ' That a man's country was to be used as 

 his parents were, that is, with humble persuasions, and not 

 with contestations ' : and Caesar's counsellor put in the 



