-
Of Studies
Francis
Bacon
Studies serve for
delight, for ornament, and for ability.
Their
chief
use
for
delight,
is
in
privateness
and
retiring;
for
ornament, is in discourse; and for
ability, is in the judgment
and
disposition of business. For expert men can
execute, and
perhaps
judge
of
particulars,
one
by
one;
but
the
general
counsels,
and the plots and
marshalling of affairs, come best from those
that are learned. To spend too much
time in studies is sloth; to
use
them too
much
for
ornament, is affectation;
to
make judgment
wholly by
their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They
perfect
nature, and are perfected by
experience: for natural abilities
are
like
natural
plants,
that
need
proyning
by
study;
and
studies
themselves
do
give
forth
directions
too
much
at
large,
except
they
be
bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn
studies, simple
men admire them, and
wise men use them; for they teach not their
own use; but that is a wisdom without
them, and above them, won
by
observation.
Read
not
to
contradict
and
confute;
nor
to
believe
and
take
for
granted;
nor
to
find
talk
and
discourse;
but
to
weigh
and
consider.
Some
books
are
to
be
tasted,
others
to
be
swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested;
that is, some books are
to be read only
in parts; others to be read, but not curiously;
and
some
few
to
be
read
wholly,
and
with
diligence
and
attention.
Some books also
may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them
by
others;
but
that
would
be
only
in
the
less
important
arguments,
and
the
meaner
sort
of
books;
else
distilled
books
are,
like
common
distilled waters, flashy things.
Reading
maketh
a
full
man;
conference
a
ready
man;
and
writing
an exact man. Ant
therefore, if a man write little, he had need
have
a
great
memory;
if
he
confer
little,
he
had
need
have
a
present
wit;
and
if
he
read
little,
he
had
need
have
much
cunning,
to
seem
to know that he doth
not. Histories make men wise; poets witty;
the mathematics subtile; natural
philosophy deep; moral grave;
logic and
rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores.
Nay
there is no stond or impediment in
the wit, but may be wrought
out by fit
studies: like as diseases of the body may have
appropriate exercises. Bowling is good
for the stone and reins;
shooting
for
the
lungs
and
breast;
gentle
walking
for
the
stomach;
riding
for
the
head;
and
the
like.
So
if
a
man’s
wit
be
wandering,
let
him
study
the
mathematics;
for
in demonstrations, if
his
wit
be called away never so
little, he must begin again. If his wit
be not apt to distinguish or find
differences, let him study the
schoolmen;
for
they
are
cymini
sectores.
If
he
be
not
apt
to
beat
over
matters, and to call up one thing to prove and
illustrate