FRANCIS BACON SAID
(PART
FIVE)
1.
The
scripture saith, The fool hath said in
his heart, there is no God; so as he rather saith it by rote to himself, as
that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of
it. For none deny there is God, but those for whom it maketh that there were no
God. It appeareth in nothing more, that atheism is rather in the lip than in
the heart of man, than by this; that atheists will ever be talking of that
their opinion, as if they fainted in it within themselves, and would be glad to
be strengthened by the consent of others.
2.
It
were better to have no opinion of God at all, than such an opinion as is
unworthy of him. For the one is unbelief, the other is contumely: and certainly
superstition is the reproach of the Deity.
3.
Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy,
to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an
outward moral virtue, though religion were not ; but superstition dismounts all
these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men.
4.
Travel,
in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of
experience. He that travelleth into a country before he hath some entrance into
the language, goeth to school, and not to travel.
5.
The
things to be seen and observed are, the courts of princes, especially when they
give audience to ambassadors; the courts
of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories
ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein
extant; and the walls of fortifications of cities and towns, and so the havens
and harbours; antiquities and ruins; libraries; colleges, disputations, and
lectures, where they are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and
pleasure, near great cities; armories; arsenals; magazines; exchanges; burses;
warehouses; exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the
like; comedies, and whereunto the better sorts of persons do resort; treasuries
of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is
memorable in the places where they go.
6.
When
a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath
travelled altogether behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters with
those of his acquaintance which are of most worth. And let his travel appear
rather in his discourse than in his apparel or gesture; and in his discourse
let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories. And let
it appear that he doth not change his country manners for those foreign parts;
but only prick in some flowers of that he hath learned abroad into the customs
of his own country.
*******
G.R. Kanwal
29 October 2026
