326 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



which is ablest to endure all alterations and extremities, so 

 likewise that health of mind is most proper which can go 

 through the greatest temptations and perturbations. So as 

 Diogenes' opinion is to be accepted, who commended not 

 them which abstained, but them which sustained, and could 

 refrain their mind /';/ praecipitio, and cculd give unto the 

 mind (as is used in horsemanship) the shortest stop or turn. 



Lastly, it censureth the tenderness and want of applica- 

 tion in some of the most ancient and reverend philosophers 

 and philosophical men, that did retire too easily from civil 

 business, for avoiding of indignities and perturbations ; 

 whereas the resolution of men truly moral ought to be 

 such as the same Consalvo said the honour of a soldier 

 should be, e teld crassiore, and not so fine as that every 

 thing should catch in it and endanger it. 



To resume Private or Particular Good, it falleth into 

 the division of Good Active and Passive : for this differ- 

 ence of Good (not unlike to that which amongst the 

 Romans was expressed in the familiar or household terms 

 of Promus and Condus) is formed also in all things ; and 

 is best disclosed in the two several appetites in creatures, 

 the one to preserve or continue themselves, and the other 

 to dilate or multiply themselves ; whereof the later seemeth 

 to be the worthier. For in nature, the heavens, which are 

 the more worthy, are the agent ; and the earth, which is 

 the less worthy, is the patient. In the pleasures of living 

 creatures, that of generation is greater than that of food. 

 In divine doctrine, Beatius est dare quam accipere. And 

 in life, there is no man's spirit so soft, but esteemeth the 

 effecting of somewhat that he hath fixed in his desire more 

 than sensuality. What priority of the Active Good is 

 much upheld by the consideration of our estate to be 

 mortal and exposed to fortune ; for if we might have a 

 perpetuity and certainty in our pleasures, the state of them 

 would advance their price ; but when we see it is but 

 Magni aestimamus mori tardius, and Ne glorieris de crastino^ 

 nescis partum diei y it maketh us to desire to have somewhat 

 secured and exempted from time ; which are only our 

 deeds and works ; as it is said Opera eorum sequuntur eos. 



