NOVUM ORGANUM. 



inventions, which may be derived not only from modes of operating 

 now unknown to us, but from the transferring, composition, and 

 application of those already known, by means of what we have called 

 literate Experience. 



cxi. Nor must we omit this motive for hope : let men consider, if 

 they will, the infinite expenditure of abilities, of time and talents, 

 which they bestow on matters and studies of very inferior utility and 

 advantage; a very small part of which, if turned to sound and 

 substantial pursuits, would suffice to overcome all difficulties. And it 

 has seemed good to us to add this, because we plainly confess that a 

 collection of Natural and Experimental History such as we are 

 planning in our mind, and such as it ought to be, is a great and, as it 

 were, royal work, and one of much labour and expense. 



cxii. In the mean time let no one be alarmed at the multitude of 

 particulars, which ought rather to inspire hope. For the particular 

 Phenomena of the Arts and Nature are but a handful, compared with 

 the figments of the wit, after they have been separated and abstracted 

 from the evidence of things. And the end of this road is open, and 

 almost at hand ; of the other there is no end, but infinite involvement. 

 For men have hitherto dwelt but little on Experience, and touched 

 upon it but lightly, while they have wasted infinite time in meditations 

 and inventions of the imagination. Now if we had any one at hand to 

 answer questions as to the actual facts of Nature, the discovery of 

 Causes and of all the Sciences would be the work of but a few years. 



cxiii. We think, too, that some hope may be drawn from our own 

 example ; nor do we say this out of boasting, but because it is 

 advantageous to mention it. If any are fainthearted, let them look 

 at me, who am, of all the men of my time, most occupied with affairs of 

 state ; by no means of strong health (a circumstance which causes a 

 great loss of time), and in this business absolutely a pioneer, a 

 follower in no man s footsteps, who have never conferred with any 

 mortal on these matters, and yet have entered with constancy on the 

 true way, and submitting my intellect to actual facts, have, as I think, 

 advanced these matters somewhat ; and then let them consider what 

 may be expected from men rich in leisure, from combination of labour, 

 and from the succession of ages, after these suggestions of mine ; 

 especially as the way to be pursued is one which is accessible not to 

 individuals only (as is the case with that rational method), but one in 

 which the labours and endeavours of men (especially as regards the 

 gathering of Experience) rnay with best effect be distributed^ and 

 afterwards compared. For men will begin to know their own strength, 

 when one man shall undertake one thing and another another, instead 

 of a great number devoting themselves to the same thing. 



cxiv. Lastly, even if the breath of hope had blown upon us far more 

 weakly and doubtfully from this new Continent, yet we have deter 

 mined, at all events, that we must make trial of it to the uttermost, 

 unless we do not wish to be utter cowards. For it is not a case where 

 there is equal risk in not trying and not succeeding ; since in the 

 former instance we risk a huge advantage ; in the latter a little human 



