FRANCIS
BACON SAID
(PART
EIGHTH)
1.
Entertain
hopes; mirth rather than joy; variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them;
wonder and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with
splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of
nature.
2.
Suspicions
amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they ever fly by twilight.
Certainly they are to be repressed, or at the least well guarded : for they
cloud the mind; they leese (old English meaning lose)friends ; they check with
business, whereby business cannot go on currently and constantly.
3.
Of
great riches there is no real us, except it be in the distribution; the rest is
but conceit. So saith Salomon, where much is, there are many to consume it ;
and what hath the owner but the sight of it with his eyes.
4.
Be
not penny-wise; riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves, sometimes
they must be sent flying to bring in more. Men leave their riches either to
their kindred, or to the public; and moderate portions prosper best in both.
5.
Ambition
is like choler; which is an humour that maketh men active, earnest, full of
alacrity, and stirring, if it be not stopped. But if it be stopped , and cannot
have his way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign and venomous. So ambitious
men, if they find the way open for their rising, and still get forward, they
are rather busy than dangerous; but if they be checked in their desires,, they become secretly discontent,
and look upon men and matters with an evil eye, and are best pleased when
things go backward; which is the worst property in a servant of a prince or
state.
6.
Nature
is often hidden; sometimes overcome; seldom extinguished. Force maketh
nature more violent in the return; doctrine and discourse maketh nature less
importune; but custom only doth alter and subdue nature. He that seeketh victory
over nature, let him not set himself too great nor too small tasks; for the
first will make him dejected by often failings; and the second will make him a
small proceeder, though by often prevailings.
G. R. Kanwal
1st November 2026
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