Francis Bacon Classic Essay Of Studies The Poetry

Studies serve for Delight, for Ornament, and for Ability. Their Chief Use for Delight is in privateness and retiring; for Onament, is in discourse; and for Ability, is in the Judgement and Disposition of Business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, 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 Omament is affectation; to make Judgement wholly by their Rules is the Humour of ascholar. They perfect Nature and perfected by Experience; for Natural Abilities are like SI by one, but auo aur Natural Plants that need Proyning by study: and Studies themselves do giveforth 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. Reade 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 rea but not Curiously; and some Few to be read wholly, an with Dil , ice and Attention. Some Bookes 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. And therefore, if a Man Write little, he had need haye 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 Mathematicks Subtile; Natural Philosophy deep; Moral grave; Logic and Rhetorick 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 Reines; Shooting for the Lungs and Breast; gentle walking for the Stomache; riding for the head; and the like. So if a Man's Wit be Wandering, let him Study the Mathematicks; for in Demonstrations, if his Wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his Wit be not apt to difference, let him Study the Schoole-men; for they Cymini Sectores'. If he be not apt to beat over Matters, and to call up one distinguish or find are Thing to Prove and illustrate another, let him Study the Lawyers' Cases. So every Defect of the Mind may have a special Receipt.

Summary Of The Essay

Studies serve man in three ways. In a state of loneliness and leisure they amuse us, in conversation they embellish our speech, and in business management they increase our ability. The experienced people can execute and judge the details of particular matters one by one, the learned people can give their best advice in planning and handling of affairs. Bacon calls it laziness to devote too much time in studies, it is called artificiality to use studies too much for the ornamentation of speech. It is a tendency of a scholar to judge by the rules given in books. Nature is perfected by studies, studies are are like plants that need trimming by studies. Cunning or shrewd men condemn studies, ordinary men show their adimication towards them, only the wise men utilize them. But true wisdom comes from observation of things minutely. One should not read to contradict or prove others false. One should neither believe blindly or take for granted what is given in the books Some books are to be read in parts, other to be read not seriously, still others to be read wholly with diligence and attention. Some books are to be read in the form of brief notes made by others. Some books are of meaner types, some others of less importance to be made abridged and presented to us like distilled water. A man becomes well-informed by reading books, by conversation he becomes quick-wited in argument, and by writing he becomes a perfect man. Therefore, ifa man writes little, he should have a great memory, if he coaverses little, he should have quickness of mind, and if he reads little, he should have much skill to pretend ignorance. History makes a man wise, and by poetry he becomes intelligent and maginative. The study of mathematics makes a man's mind sharp and quick Endse or understanding. The study of science makes a man deep, eshics serious, logic and rhotric enable him to argue well. Studies pass into character. Not only this, by studies there remains no restraint in mind. Proper studies remove the mental defects, just as physical defects are cured. Bowling is good for stone and kidneys, shooting retmoves the defects of lungs, gentle walking is good for stomach, riding is good for the head, and so on. The study of mathematics removes the inconsistency of mind. The stady of the great works of the scholars and philosophers makes a man capable of distinguishing between things. Lawyer's cases are discussion. In this way every defect of mind can be removed by the studies and improves our total personality.