Introduction
To the Right Honorable my very good lord the Duke of Buckingham his
Grace, Lord High Admiral of England
1 Of Studies
2 Of Truth
3 Of Death
4 Of Unity in Religion
5 Of Revenge
6 Of Adversity
7 Of Simulation Dissimulation
8 Of Parents Children
9 Of Marriage Single Life
10 Of Envy
11 Of Love
12 Of Great Place
13 Of Boldness
14 Of Goodness, Goodness of Nature
15 Of Nobility
16 Of Seditions Troubles
17 Of Atheism
18 Of Superstition
19 Of Travel
20 Of Empire
21 Of Counsel
22 Of Delays
23 Of Cunning
24 Of Wisdom for a Man’s Self
25 Of Innovations
26 Of Dispatch
27 Of Seeming Wise
28 Of Friendship
29 Of Expense
30 Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms Estates
31 Of Regiment of Health
32 Of Suspicion
33 Of Discourse
34 Of Plantations
35 Of Riches
36 Of Prophecies
37 Of Ambition
38 Of Masques Triumphs
39 Of Nature in Men
40 Of Custom Education
41 Of Fortune
42 Of Usury
43 Of Youth Age
44 Of Beauty
45 Of Deformity
46 Of Building
47 Of Gardens
48 Of Negotiating
49 Of Followers Friends
50 Of Suitors
51 Of Faction
52 Of Ceremonies Respects
53 Of Praise
54 Of Vainglory
55 Of Honour Reputation
56 Of Judicature
57 Of Anger
58 Of Vicissitude of Things
A Fragment of an Essay of Fame
內容試閱：
Of Studies
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 judgement 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 judgement wholly by
their rules is the humour of a scholar. They perfect nature, and
are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural
plants, that need pruning by study: and studies themselves do give
forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by
experience. Crafty men condemn 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
book: 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 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 subtle; 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
another, let him study the lawyers’ cases: so every defect of the
mind may have a special receipt.
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