348 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



themselves in name, and seldom aspire to higher virtue ; 

 whereas those that have defect in it do seek comeliness by 

 reputation : for where reputation is, almost every thing 

 becometh ; but where that is not, it must be supplied by 

 puntos and compliments. Again, there is no greater im- 

 pediment of action than an over-curious observance of 

 decency, and the guide of decency, which is time and 

 season. For as Solomon sayeth, >ui respidt ad ventos, non 

 seminat; et qui respicit ad nubes, non metet; a man must 

 make his opportunity, as oft as find it. To conclude; 

 Behaviour seemeth to me as a garment of the mind, and 

 to have the conditions of a garment. For it ought to be 

 made in fashion ; it ought not to be too curious ; it ought 

 to be shaped so as to set forth any good making of the 

 mind, and hide any deformity ; and above all, it ought 

 not to be too strait or restrained for exercise or motion. 

 But this part of civil knowledge hath been elegantly 

 handled, and therefore I cannot report it for deficient. 



^ The wisdom touching Negotiation or Business hath 



not been hitherto collected into writing, to the great dero- 

 gation of learning and the professors of learning. For 

 from this root springeth chiefly that note or opinion, 

 which by us is expressed in adage to this effect, that 

 there is no great concurrence between learning and wis- 

 dom. For of the three wisdoms which we have set down 

 to pertain to civil life, for wisdom of Behaviour, it is by 

 learned men for the most part despised, as an inferior to 

 virtue and an enemy to meditation ; for wisdom of 

 Government, they acquit themselves well when they are 

 called to it, but that happeneth to few ; but for the wisdom 

 of Business, wherein man's life is most conversant, there 

 be no books of it, except some few scattered advertise- 

 ments, that have no proportion to the magnitude of this 

 subject. For if books were written of this as the other, I 



' \ doubt not but learned men with mean experience would 

 far excel men of long experience without learning, and 

 outshoot them in their own bow. 



Neither needeth it at all to be doubted that this know- 

 ledge should be so variable as it falleth not under precept ; 



