THE SECOND BOOK 309 



much taken into custom, out of a few Axioms or obser- 

 vations upon any subject to make a solemn and formal 

 art ; filling it with some discourses, and illustrating it with 

 examples, and digesting it into a sensible Method ; but 

 the writing in Aphorisms hath many excellent virtues, 

 whereto the writing in Method doth not approach. 



For first, it trieth the writer, whether he be superficial 

 or solid : for Aphorisms, except they should be ridiculous, 

 cannot be made but of the pith and heart of sciences ; for 

 discourse of illustration is cut off ; recitals of examples are 

 cut off ; discourse of connexion and order is cut off ; 

 descriptions of practice are cut off; so there remaineth 

 nothing to fill the Aphorisms but some good quantity of 

 observation : and therefore no man can suffice, nor in 

 reason will attempt, to write Aphorisms, but he that is 

 sound and grounded. But in Methods, 



Tantum series June turaque pollef, 

 Tantum de media sumptis accedit honoris^ 



as a man shall make a great show of an art, which if it 

 were disjointed would come to little. Secondly, Methods 

 are more fit to win consent or belief, but less fit to point 

 to action ; for they carry a kind of demonstration in orb 

 or circle, one part illuminating another, and therefore 

 satisfy ; but particulars, being dispersed, do best agree 

 with dispersed directions. And lastly, Aphorisms, repre- 

 senting a knowledge broken, do invite men to enquire 

 farther ; whereas Methods, carrying the show of a total, 

 do secure men, as if they were at furthest. 



Another diversity of Method, which is likewise of great 

 weight, is the handling of knowledge by Assertions and 

 their Proofs, or by Questions and their Determinations ; 

 the latter kind whereof, if it be immoderately followed, is 

 as prejudicial to the proceeding of learning, as it is to the 

 proceeding of an army to go about to besiege every little 

 fort or hold. For if the field be kept and the sum of the 

 enterprise pursued, those smaller things will come in of 

 themselves : indeed a man would not leave some important 

 piece enemy at his back. In like manner, the use of 



