FRANCIS BACON SAID
(NINTH PART)
1, Men’s thoughts are much according to their inclination; their
discourse and speeches according to their learning and infused opinions; but
their deeds are after as they have been accustomed.
2. A man that is young in years may be old in hours, if he have lost no
time. But that happeneth rarely.
Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For
there is youth in thoughts, as well as in ages. And yet the invention of young
men is more lively than that of old; and imaginations stream into their minds
better, and as it were more divinely.
3. Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot last;
and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of
countenance; but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh virtue shine,
and vice blush.
4. Houses are built to live in, and not to look on; therefore let use be
preferred before uniformity, except where both may be bad. Leave the goodly
fabrics of houses, for beauty only, to the enchanted palaces of the poets, who
build them with small cost. He that builds a fair house upon an ill seat ,
committeth himself to prison.
5. God Almighty first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the purest of
human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man; without
which buildings and palaces are but gross handyworks: and a man shall ever see that when ages grow
to civility and elegancy, men come to build stately than to garden finely; as
if gardening were the greater perfection.
6. Costly followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his
train longer, he make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not them alone
which charge the purse, but which are wearisome and importune in suits.
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G.R. Kanwal
2nd November 2026
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