FRANCIS BACON SAID
(PART THREE)
1.
The
stage is more beholding to love, than the life of man. For as to the stage,
love is ever matter of comedies, and now and then of tragedies; but in life it
doth much mischief; sometimes like a siren, sometimes like a fury.
2.
Here
is in man’s nature a secret inclination and motion towards love of others,
which if it be not spent upon some one or a few, doth naturally spread itself
towards many, and maketh men become humane and charitable; as it is seen sometimes
in friars.
3.
Nuptial
love maketh mankind; friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love corrupteth
and enbaseth it.
4.
Men
in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state;
servants of fame; and servants of business. So as they have no freedom; neither
in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times.
5.
It
is a strange desire, to seek power and to lose liberty; or to seek power over
others and to lose power over a man’s self.
6.
When
you are no longer what you have been, there is no reason for wishing to live.
7.
Certainly
men in great fortunes are strangers to themselves, and while they are in the
puzzle of business they have no time to tend their health either of body or
mind.
8.
Death
falls heavy upon him who dies too well known to others, but unknown to himself.
9.
If
you have colleagues, respect them, and rather call them when they look to be
called.
10.
Be not too sensible or too remembering of thy
place in conversation and private answers to suitors; but let it rather be said,
when he sits in place he is another man.
11.
This is well to be weighed; that boldness is
ever blind; for it seeth not dangers and inconveniences. Therefore it is ill in
counsel, good in execution; so that the right use of bold persons is, that they
never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others.
12.
In
counsel it is good to see dangers; and in execution not to see them, except
they be very great.
*********
G. R. Kanwal
27 October 2026
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