Table of contents.
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The essays or counsels, civil and moral,, of francis ld. verulam viscount st. albans, francis bacon.
PAGE | |
Preface by B. Montagu, Esq. | |
Introductory Notice of the Life and Writings of Bacon, by A. Spiers, Ph. D. |
ESSAYS; OR, COUNSELS CIVIL AND MORAL. | ||||
NO. | ||||
1. | Of Truth | 1625; | ||
2. | Of Death | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
3. | Of Unity in Religion; | Of Religion 1612; rewritten 1625 | ||
4. | Of Revenge | 1625; | ||
5. | Of Adversity | 1625; | ||
6. | Of Simulation and Dissimulation | 1625; | ||
7. | Of Parents and Children | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
8. | Of Marriage and Single Life | 1612; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
9. | Of Envy | 1625; | ||
10. | Of Love | 1612; | rewritten 1625 | |
11. | Of Great Place | 1612; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
12. | Of Boldness | 1625; | ||
13. | Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
14. | Of Nobility | 1612; | rewritten 1625 | |
15. | Of Seditions and Troubles | 1625 | ||
16. | Of Atheism | 1612; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
17. | Of Superstition | 1612; | " " 1625 | |
18. | Of Travel | 1625; | ||
19. | Of Empire | 1612; | much enlarged 1625 | |
20. | Of Counsels | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
21. | Of Delays | 1625; | ||
22. | Of Cunning | 1612; | rewritten 1625 | |
23. | Of Wisdom for a Man's Self | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
24. | Of Innovations | 1625; | ||
25. | Of Dispatch | 1612; | ||
26. | Of Seeming Wise | 1612; | ||
27. | Of Friendship | 1612; | rewritten 1625 | |
28. | Of Expense | 1597; | enlarged 1612; and again 1625 | |
29. | Of the true Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
30. | Of Regimen of Health | 1597; | enlarged 1612; again 1625 | |
31. | Of Suspicion | 1625; | ||
32. | Of Discourse | 1597; | slightly enlarged 1612; again 1625 | |
33. | Of Plantations | 1625; | ||
34. | Of Riches | 1612; | much enlarged 1625 | |
35. | Of Prophecies | 1625; | ||
36. | Of Ambition | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
37. | Of Masques and Triumphs | 1625; | ||
38. | Of Nature in Men | 1612; | enlarged 1625 | |
39. | Of Custom and Education | 1612; | " " | |
40. | Of Fortune | 1612; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
41. | Of Usury | 1625; | ||
42. | Of Youth and Age | 1612; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
43. | Of Beauty | 1612; | " " 1625 | |
44. | Of Deformity | 1612; | somewhat altered 1625 | |
45. | Of Building | 1625; | ||
46. | Of Gardens | 1625; | ||
47. | Of Negotiating | 1597; | enlarged 1612; very slightly altered 1625 | |
48. | Of Followers and Friends | 1597; | slightly enlarged 1625 | |
49. | Of Suitors | 1597; | enlarged 1625 | |
50. | Of Studies | 1597; | " 1625 | |
51. | Of Faction | 1597; | much enlarged 1625 | |
52. | Of Ceremonies and Respects | 1597; | enlarged 1625 | |
53. | Of Praise | 1612; | " 1625 | |
54. | Of Vainglory | 1612; | ||
55. | Of Honor and Reputation | 1597; | omitted 1612; republished 1625 | |
56. | Of Judicature | 1612; | ||
57. | Of Anger | 1625; | ||
58. | Of the Vicissitude of Things | 1625; |
1. | Fragment of an Essay of Fame | |
2. | Of a King | |
3. | An Essay on Death |
Preface | ||
1. | Cassandra, or Divination. Explained of too free and unseasonable Advice | |
2. | Typhon, or a Rebel. Explained of Rebellion | |
3. | The Cyclops, or the Ministers of Terror. Explained of base Court Officers | |
4. | Narcissus, or Self-Love | |
5. | The River Styx, or Leagues. Explained of Necessity, in the Oaths or Solemn Leagues of Princes | |
6. | Pan, or Nature. Explained of Natural Philosophy | |
7. | Perseus, or War. Explained of the Preparation and Conduct necessary to War | |
8. | Endymion, or a Favorite. Explained of Court Favorites | |
9. | The Sister of the Giants, or Fame. Explained of Public Detraction | |
10. | Acteon and Pentheus, or a Curious Man. Explained of Curiosity, or Prying into the Secrets of Princes and Divine Mysteries | |
11. | Orpheus, or Philosophy. Explained of Natural and Moral Philosophy | |
12. | Colum, or Beginnings. Explained of the Creation, or Origin of all Things | |
13. | Proteus, or Matter. Explained of Matter and its Changes | |
14. | Memnon, or a Youth too forward. Explained of the fatal Precipitancy of Youth | |
15. | Tythonus, or Satiety. Explained of Predominant Passions | |
16. | Juno's Suitor, or Baseness. Explained of Submission and Abjection | |
17. | Cupid, or an Atom. Explained of the Corpuscular Philosophy | |
18. | Diomed, or Zeal. Explained of Persecution, or Zeal for Religion | |
19. | Dædalus, or Mechanical Skill. Explained of Arts and Artists in Kingdoms and States | |
20. | Ericthonius, or Imposture. Explained of the improper Use of Force in Natural Philosophy | |
21. | Deucalion, or Restitution. Explained of a useful Hint in Natural Philosophy | |
22. | Nemesis, or the Vicissitude of Things. Explained of the Reverses of Fortune | |
23. | Achelous, or Battle. Explained of War by Invasion | |
24. | Dionysus, or Bacchus. Explained of the Passions | |
25. | Atalanta and Hippomenes, or Gain. Explained of the Contest betwixt Art and Nature | |
26. | Prometheus, or the State of Man. Explained of an Overruling Providence, and of Human Nature | |
27. | Icarus and Scylla and Charybdis, or the Middle Way. Explained of Mediocrity in Natural and Moral Philosophy | |
28. | Sphinx, or Science. Explained of the Sciences | |
29. | Proserpine, or Spirit. Explained of the Spirit included in Natural Bodies | |
30. | Metis, or Counsel. Explained of Princes and their Council | |
31. | The Sirens, or Pleasures. Explained of Men's Passion for Pleasures |
By lord bacon, edited by joseph devey.
On the Interpretation of Nature and the Empire of Man |
On the Interpretation of Nature, or the Reign of Man |
By sir edwin durning-lawrence, promus of fourmes and elegancyes by francis bacon, collated by f.b. bickley, and f.a. herbert, bacon is shakespeare..
By francis bacon.
OF THE LIMITS AND END OF KNOWLEDGE. | |
THAT THE PRETENDED SUCCESSION OF WITS HATH BEEN EVIL PLACED, FOR ASMUCH AS AFTER VARIETY OF SECTS AND OPINIONS, THE MOST POPULAR AND NOT THE TRUEST PREVAILETH AND WEARETH OUT THE REST; BEING THE 7TH CHAPTER; A FRAGMENT. | |
OF THE IMPEDIMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE IN HANDLING IT BY PARTS, AND IN SLIPPING OFF PARTICULAR SCIENCES FROM THE ROOT AND STOCK OF UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE, BEING THE 8TH CHAPTER, THE WHOLE CHAPTER. | |
THAT THE END AND SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE HATH BEEN GENERALLY MISTAKEN, AND THAT MEN WERE NEVER WELL ADVISED WHAT IT WAS THEY SOUGHT; BEING THE 9TH CHAPTER, WHEREOF A FRAGMENT (WHICH IS THE END OF THE SAME CHAPTER) IS BEFORE. | |
THE INVENTORY, OR AN ENUMERATION AND VIEW OF INVENTIONS ALREADY DISCOVERED AND IN USE, TOGETHER WITH A NOTE OF THE WANTS AND THE NATURE OF THE SUPPLIES, BEING THE 10TH CHAPTER; AND THIS A SMALL FRAGMENT THEREOF, BEING THE PREFACE TO THE INV | |
THE CHAPTER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INVENTORY; BEING THE 11TH IN ORDER; A PART THEREOF. | |
Early modern philosophy.
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Francis Bacon, the first major English essayist , comments forcefully in "Of Studies" on the value of reading, writing, and learning.
"Of Studies" is an aphoristic essay. Notice Bacon's reliance on parallel structures (in particular, tricolons ) throughout. Then, compare the essay to Samuel Johnson 's treatment of the same theme more than a century later in "On Studies".
Francis Bacon is considered a Renaissance man. He worked as a lawyer and scientist throughout his life (1561-1626.)
Bacon's most valuable work surrounded philosophical and Aristotelian concepts that supported the scientific method. Bacon served as an attorney general as well as lord chancellor of England and received his education from several universities including Trinity College and the University of Cambridge.
Bacon wrote over 50 essays beginning with "Of" in the title and following the concept, such as " Of Truth ", "Of Atheism", and " Of Discourse ".
Bacon's uncle was the lord keeper for Queen Elizabeth I. He helped symbolize the approvals for key documents. Additionally:
Bacon's essay expresses several comments in "Of Studies" that can be interpreted as the following:
"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 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 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 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 [Studies pass into and influence manners]. Nay, there is no stone 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 [splitters of hairs]. 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."
Bacon published three editions of his essays (in 1597, 1612, and 1625), and the last two were marked by the addition of more essays. In many cases, they became expanded works from earlier editions. This is the best-known version of the essay "Of Studies", taken from the 1625 edition of "Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral".
"Studies serve for pastimes, for ornaments, for abilities; their chief use for pastimes is in privateness and retiring; for ornaments in discourse; and for ability in judgment; for expert men can execute, but learned men are more fit to judge and censure. To spend too much time in them 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 themselves perfected by experience; crafty men contemn them, wise men use them, simple men admire them; for they teach not their use, but that there is a wisdom without them and above them won by observation. Read not to contradict nor to believe, 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 are to be read only in parts, others to be read but curiously, and some few to be read wholly with diligence and attention. Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready, and writing an exact man; therefore, if a man write little, he had need of a great memory; if he confer little, he had need of a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not know. Histories make wise men; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend."
Dr Madhumita Majumdar
In this chapter we shall discuss:
Knowing Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Alban, Lord Chancellor of England (1618–21) was the son of Sir Nicolas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Seal. His mother was Lady Anne Cooke Bacon, his father’s second wife and daughter to Sir Anthony Cooke, a humanist who was also Edward VI’s tutor. Francis Bacon’s mother happened to be incidentally the sister-in-law of Lord Burghley. Thus from a tender age, Bacon found himself exposed to an atmosphere of humanist scholarship. Young Francis Bacon began attending Trinity College, Cambridge, from April 1573, when he had been just an eleven year old. After having completed his education from Trinity in December 1575; the very next year he joined a law program at Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Given his temperament, it was expected that he found the curriculum at Gray’s Inn old fashioned. Bacon was strong in his criticism of his teachers who he agreed were surely men of wits but never explored beyond a few authors and were chiefly stagnating themselves with an author like Aristotle. What did then Bacon favour? The answer – the new Renaissance humanism over Aristotelianism and scholasticism: the more traditional schools of thought in England to a more humanistic approach.
Things turned difficult for the talented Francis when his father passed away suddenly and this meant he had to sustain on a meagre inheritance. Desperate he turned to his uncle, Lord Burghley who was in no mood help the hapless teen. Thus Francis was left with a struggle of earning a decent earning for a living at a very young age! Luck finally knocked on his door in 1581 when he landed a job as a member for Cornwall in the House of Commons. The job allowed Bacon to return to Gray’s Inn and complete his education. Next in 1582: he found himself appointed in the position of outer barrister. With his composition, A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth , his very first political memorandum in 1584 he gave himself the political leap that he had long desired. Bacon went on to hold his position successfully in the Parliament for nearly four decades that is from 1584 to 1617 and that he spent the tenure as an active political person in the court is well known. In 1603, he was knighted upon James I’s ascension to the British throne and quickly moved up the legal and political ranks, becoming solicitor general in 1607 and attorney general in 1613. In 1616, he joined the Privy Council and the next year like his father became the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and finally in 1618, Bacon was promoted to the lofty title of Lord Chancellor, one of the highest political offices in England. In 1621, Bacon became Viscount St. Albans.But thereafter the meteorical rise of Bacon took a dip in the very year he became Viscount: he stood accused of accepting bribes and was impeached by the Parliament for corruption. There has been some speculation on this aspect of Bacon’s life: there is a group of people who believe that Bacon was set up by his enemies in Parliament and the court faction and was unfortunately used as a scapegoat and his impeachment was actually a design to protect the Duke of Buckingham. Bacon was tried and found guilty after he confessed. A hefty 40,000 pounds fine and a sentence to the Tower of London was what the court ordered. Though he went free after four days of imprisonment and the fine was lifted, it took a toll on his reputation and consequently upon his health.
Not many can claim to have used life after such a beating in terms of reputation fruitfully. But Bacon was a breed different. It is only after his forced retirement that Bacon went on to write essays in whichhe shared the wisdom of his life – the wisdom coming from one who had seen much struggle, rise, fame and the loss. The original number of essays in Bacon’s Essays (1597) was ten and included titles like Of Studies,Of Discourse , Of Suitors , and Of Expense . By the year 1612, there were thirty-eight essays. They were pearls of wisdom though it is known that Bacon’s development as a man had left him sadder. Such a man expectedly should have been didactic or even dogmatic in tone, isn’t it? Bacon being Bacon, he was none rather he was pragmatic and very friendly in approach. His essays are his observations. So in an essay where he talks of ‘envy’ he does not sound preachy about envy being bad or destructive. Rather in a matter of fact, he relates incidents and hopes the observational eye will deduce the right conclusion. It is this that brought warmth and acceptance of the wisdom that he mentions in his essays.
Of Studies (1625)
‘Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man’ – so begins one of the popular essays of the man who brought prose writing virtually in vogue during Renaissance. This one paragraph essay elaborates on the value of learning and reading. He is witty and concise. What catches our attention is his reliance on parallel structures in the essay.
What does study do? Bacon says: ‘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.’
One interesting facet of Bacon’s essays is that many pearls in his essays have become very popular and oft quoted. One such example would be from this essay we are discussing here: ‘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.’
A century later in 1753 Samuel Johnson’s was to write in his essays in the biweekly journal The Adventurer which included the essay On Studies that explored interestingly some of the themes introduced by Francis Bacon in Of Studies. There is a difference though: if Bacon’sstyle is terse and aphoristic then Johnson’s more expansive prose.
Another essay that draws our attention when we speak of this essay of Bacon’s had appeared in 1719, the same year in which Defoe published the first volume of Robinson Crusoe . The Education of Women by Daniel Defoe is an essay wherein he appeals to a male audience as he develops his argument that women should be allowed full and ready access to education. Bacon had concluded his essay: ‘So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt ‘. Study not only whets the wit but is also necessary for growth. Different in texture but Johnson’s and Defoe’s essay only augments the argument started by
Bacon long ago!
Of Discourse
Bacon begins this essay of our discussion thus:
Some in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment, in discerning what is true; as if it were a praise to know what might be said, and not what should be thought. Some have certain common-places and themes, wherein they are good, and want variety; which kind of poverty is for the most part tedious, and, when it is once perceived, ridiculous. The honourablest part of talk is to give the occasion; and again to moderate and pass to somewhat else, for then a man leads the dance. It is good in discourse, and speech of conversation, to vary and intermingle speech of the present occasion with arguments, tales with reasons, asking of questions with telling of opinions, and jest with earnest: for it is a dull thing to tire, and, as we say now, to jade, anything too far. As for jest, there be certain things which ought to be privileged from it; namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, any man’s present business of importance, and any case that deserveth pity.
This essay tells us how one can lead the way in a conversation without being dominating. The apt spirit of the essay had been caught by Lisa Jardine in her book The Art of Discourse (1974): “Bacon’s Essays fall squarely under the heading of presentation or ‘method of discourse.’ They are didactic, in Agricola’s sense of presenting knowledge to someone in a form in which it may be believed and assimilated. . . .
Basically these essays communicate precepts for the guidance of personal conduct in public affairs, based on Bacon’s own political experience.”
Bacon observes that it must be understood that there are some who have common places and themes on which they are comfortable talking on. What then is the best way to converse? Bacon puts it thus: “The honourablest part of talk is to give the occasion; and again to moderate and pass to somewhat else, for then a man leads the dance. It is good in discourse, and speech of conversation, to vary and intermingle speech of the present occasion with arguments, tales with reasons, asking of questions with telling of opinions, and jest with earnest: for it is a dull thing to tire, and, as we say now, to jade, anything too far.” There are certain topics Bacon argues should be kept out of jest: namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, any man’s present business of importance and anything that deserves pity. Also a satirist who makes others afraid of his wit must be afraid of other’s memory or else, he can land himself in discomfort. One must know the distinction between bitterness and wit or ‘saltiness’ as Bacon puts it.
That Bacon inspired and influenced prose writers has been seen when we undertook the discussion on the essay Of Studies. The present essay O f Discourse, reminds us another of Samuel Johnson’s essay called Conversation. Poet, critic, and dictionary-maker, Samuel Johnson is considered to be one of the great writers of the 18th century. Johnson had been aptly captured in James Boswell’s The Life of SamuelJohnson (1791) and the said essay shows he was also a strikingly witty conversationalist and a very entertaining person to be with. Johnson was known to be superfluous in the practice of this art that is conversation and would be presenting it with aplomb in one of the London tavern called the Turk’s Head. Simultaneously, another of Swift’s essay Hints Toward an Essay on Conversation reminds us strongly of Bacon’s Of Discourse . Johnson’s essay on conversation begins thus:
None of the desires dictated by vanity is more general, or less blamable, than that of being distinguished for the arts of conversation. Other accomplishments may be possessed without opportunity of exerting them, or wanted without danger that the defect can often be remarked; but as no man can live, otherwise than in a hermitage, without hourly pleasure or vexation, from the fondness or neglect of those about him, the faculty of giving pleasure is of continual use. Few are more frequently envied than those who have the power of forcing attention wherever they come, whose entrance is considered as a promise of felicity, and whose departure is lamented, like the recess of the sun from northern climates, as a privation of all that enlivens fancy, or inspirits gaiety.
Almost as an extension of the tonal mode of Bacon, Johnson considers conversation as a necessary art because a good conversationist will not only attract the attention of others but liven up the space that he inhabits! On the other hand, the great Anglo-Irish satirist Jonathan Swift talks of “the faults and errors” of those who lack the ability to participate in an agreeable conversation:
Most things, pursued by men for the happiness of public or private life, our wit or folly have so refined, that they seldom subsist but in idea; a true friend, a good marriage, a perfect form of government, with some others, require so many ingredients, so good in their several kinds, and so much niceness in mixing them, that for some thousands of years men have despaired of reducing their schemes to perfection. But, in conversation, it is, or might be otherwise; for here we are only to avoid a multitude of errors, which, although a matter of some difficulty, may be in every man’s power, for want of which it remaineth as mere an idea as the other. Therefore it seemeth to me, that the truest way to understand conversation, is to know the faults and errors to which it is subject, and from thence every man to form maxims to himself whereby it may be regulated, because it requireth few talents to which most men are not born, or at least may not acquire without any great genius or study. For nature hath left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company; and there are an hundred men sufficiently qualified for both, who, by a very few faults, that they might correct in half an hour, are not so much as tolerable.
The three essays prove that conversation is an art that needs nourishment and can get people the kind of attention that they want and desire and need we say who began it all in English. It helps to note in this context that to Romans oratory was an art and oratory a profession looked upon with respect.
Francis Bacon’s essay Of Truth is one of his more famous essays. The essay begins by making a genial observation: it mocks those who refuse to admit that there is objective truth that needs to be acknowledged by all. Bacon almost laughs as he says that people oft have a natural love of lying even when lying yields no notable advantage. ‘Truth’ resembles light, but Bacon opines that many people prefer to flirt with darkness because they take some pleasure in lies and take to lying almost without need. Bacon who might have had faced a debacle with allegations labeled against him at the ripe age of 60; however, asserts that truth is the greatest good that a man can possess. Where does Truth come from and why it is so important? Bacon has the answer – he asserts that Truth comes from God and consequently it brings us close to God, and naturally truth provides us with greatest pleasure.
This essay of Bacon is structured in an interesting manner. It begins with the mentioning Pilate, a symbolic Christ-killer and enemy of God, but it ends by elaborately celebrating God’s goodness and creativity. Pontius Pilate it is said had interrogated Jesus before his crucifixion, Jesus proclaimed that “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37). To this, Pilate had mockingly replied: “What is truth?” and thereafter left Jesus to address the Jewish clergy who were hell bent on getting Christ crucified even over a Barabbas (v. 38). True there is no official record of Jesus’ reply to Pilate but Christians largely believe that Pilate had looked down upon Truth. Jesus does say this to his disciple Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Pilate was dismissive of truth; God, on the other hand, created truth and personifies truth. The the essay though framed by references especially relevant to Christians, Bacon leads to the conclusion that truth is God. Does it not remind us of the Indian thought: Satyam Sivam Sundaram (Truth is God). Bacon does cite various classical authorities and discusses various classical opinions to augment his belief. Not all classical philosophers believed in the existence of truth but there would be some who like the Christians agreed that truth should be highly valued. Bacon is wit personified. He says lying is found oft attractive and truth pain boring, so people would tell lie even when there is no benefit from it. Bacon takes the essay back to the debate initiated by Plato: Poets told lies. Bacon like most of his contemporaries suggested that the lies told by the poets were not harmful in nature. Almost Aristotelian in argument, he says poetic untruth is shadow lie. Finally he ends the essay by aligning himself to the Christian doctrine of truth. Unlike the two essays of our discussion, this essay sees a number of allusions which are used to drive the basic idea of the essay home. Bacon raises serious questions and pushes the readers to think. Apart from allusion, imagery of light and darkness is used effectively:
Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond, or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights.
What strikes again is the persuasive nature of Bacon and he does it with such smoothness, that he does not sound like a preacher. The essay is not ornamental like contemporary Elizabethan essays but is straight and simple. There is also a moderate use of Latinism in the essay. Of Truth is indicative of the greatness of Bacon’s mind and art. That he wasa philosopher and gifted with practical reasoning sense is also revealed. Bacon talks of subjective truth that is functional in social life. After reading the essay, we are likely to conclude that Bacon is also a moralist. What are the other aspects of Bacon that we will notice is revealed through the essay? He is a keen observer of human mind and behavior. He candidly says that like in the time of Pilate there would be people who do not care about truth. Bacon reasons as to why people do tell lies! First, truth is acquired through hard work and man is not enthusiastic about hard work. Secondly, truth curtails man’s freedom. Thirdly Bacon says “a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself.” Further he says: “A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.” In the bright light of truth, man fears exposure. Bacon states that if deprived of false pride and vanities, the human mind would be deflated and would look poor and sad. He uses the idea of truth to create a utopia suggesting that truth can make the earth a paradise: “Certainly, it is heaven upon earth, to have a man’s mind move in charity, rest in Providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.” Also Bacon presents the need of truth in civic life: “….. that clear and round dealing is the honour of man’s nature; and that mixture of falsehood is like alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the metal work better, but it embaseth it.” The liar virtually has no salvation. Bacon uses the imagery of a snake to present the state of a liar. Bacon takes to the French essayist Montaigne who is of the view that “a lie faces God and shrinks from man” to reiterate his point. It is with this that Bacon concludes that untruth is equal to wickedness. He uses the imagery of the alloy to pin his point. At no point in the essay does it digress, it is single in tone in trying to prove that truth could only salvage man.
Bacon’s is noted for his wit and aphorism and that is his style. Again there is lot to be understood about his style in respect to the Elizabethan and Jacobean prose writers. One thing we can deduce from our study of the three essays above is that a number of lines of Bacon’s essay have become like proverbs:
Suspicions among thoughts are like bats among birds. ( Of Suspicion )
The ways to enrich are many and most of them foul. (Of Riches)
It is a strange desire to seek power and lose liberty: or to seek power over others and lose power over a man’s self. (Of Great Place)
Such lines also ooze of practical sense on the part of the essayist. Thoughts are so condensed that reading of Bacon essays should be at such a pace wherein we can sip in the treasure.
The aphoristic style always depends on the device of balance and antithesis and has seen as synonymous with Bacon. An example can be taken from his essay, Of Marriage and Single life Bacon opines that an unmarried man is a good friend, good master and good servant, but not a good citizen! An example of antithesis is: Nuptial love maketh mankind; friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it.” (Of Marriage and Single Life.).
Critics have largely agreed that Bacon has two styles. One style as we see in his early essays.Macaulay, by contrasting extracts from Of Studies (1597) and Of Adversity (1625) makes obvious the two styles of Bacon.The first collection of essays of Bacon’s is largely illustrative. The original idea of Bacon had been to make the essays into a sort of diary with observations on various topics. These early essays were worked around a central idea. In his later essays, Bacon comes to maturity and his essays achieve more colour and texture. Also in the later essays, the extreme condensation of the early essays was gone. Though a sense of incompleteness accompanies his essays throughout, nevertheless loose thoughts are left out in the later essays and they appear more rounded.
Bacon is a rhetorician who uses it to persuade and dazzle and in this he has a few competitors in English Language.Bacon’s style can be summed to be as: a plethora of figures of speech, a master of simile and metaphor. Analogies and allusion also abound in his work and they are used to illustrate a point for example: In Of the True Greatness of Kingdom , there is an analogy drawn from the Bible which is rather elaborate: “The blessing of Judah and Issachar will never meet: that the same people or nation should be both the lion’s whelp and the ass between burthens: neither will it be, that a people overlaid with taxes should ever become valiant and martial.” Again imagery and figurative speeches become more rampant in the later essays. Bacon’s learned mind fluently used quotations and allusions drawn from various sources like fables, the Bible, History, the ancient Greek and Roman writers and much more.We have seen in Of Truth how he makes references to Pilate, Lucian, Lucretius and Montaigne, or let us remind ourselves how in Of Great Place , we encounter allusions to Tacitus, Galba and Vespasian!
Apart from remarkable wit, Bacon is flexible in his approach. Bacon is not wholly difficult. Extreme condensation of idea sometimes demand slow reading of his essays though few Latinism in his essays make it difficult to follow. At best, we can conclude that the style of Bacon was witty, aphoristic, terse and full of brevity. The sentences in the essay reveal astute wisdom and at times they are epigrammatic in nature too. Of Studies has many epigrammatic sentences: “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Or “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.” Again in Of Great Place , we have it: “The rising into place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains.” Or “It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others and to lose over a man’s self.” The charm of Bacon’s lies in his ability to deal with a large number of subjects with equal brightness, intellect and spontaneity and of course wit! Bacon at no point was cumbersome, a thing that would be confirmed by Dryden later. To conclude Bacon, the essayist can be summed and paid tribute in his own words:
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. (Book I, v, 8, The Advancement of Learning).
Francis Bacon was a famous Essayist of the 16th century and also known as the father of English prose. The collection of his essays was also titled “Essays” which was first published in 1597 and later its second edition was published in 1812 and 1625 respectively.
Bacon as an essayist penned in a methodical way, taking their subject-matter from a collection of perspectives, analyzing them, and writing in distinct prose style, using aphorisms to clearly make a point. He enclosed such subjects as study, love, health, work, truth, travel, friendship, beauty, anger, and so on.
Read more: Renaissance in English Literature
Francis Bacon believed that a person’s mind and personality are expressed through his writing. Therefore if a person had a muddled, unclear and cryptic writing style, then that was an indication that his mind was also disordered and confused. Furthermore if a person’s writing skill was clear, simple and straightforward then that was an indication that his mind was also transparent and uncomplicated. This is very much evident in Bacon’s writings too as he employs short, concise, and aphoristic writing technique in his essays.
Table of Contents
An aphoristic technique signifies the close-packed and concise style of writing. An aphorism is a terse sentence, conveying the idea in the least possible words. Certainly, Bacon’s essays are replete with such aphorism. His essays amalgamate knowledge with utmost conciseness. The brief, epigrammatic pearl of wisdom in his essays has turned into well-liked mottoes and household verbalism. There are numerous aphoristic lines that we find in his essays. For example in the essay “Of Truth”: “A mixture of lie doth ever add pleasure.” (Francis Bacon, Of Truth).
Through this sentence Bacon wishes to forward the concept that the truth gets more appealing when mingled with a lie in it. Therefore, most of the times, when we wish to protect a lie; we use this pronouncement of Bacon.
Bacon’s essay “Of Friendship” reveals Bacon’s pithy and laconic style: “For a crowd is not a company and faces are but a gallery of pictures.” (Francis Bacon, Of Friendship).
Read more: Humanism renaissance in English Literature
All the aphorisms of Bacon’s essays amazed us by their freshness and novelty. Every aphoristic sentence seizes us. His laconic style grabs our attention. Basically, they all gratify, excite and delight us because they all consist of priceless ideas, advice, and lessons.
The learning spirit of renaissance is very much evident in Bacon’s writings. Bacon employs allusions and references carried from varied origins, chronicles, past records, ancient Greek and Roman writers, classical tales, and the Bible. Bacon employs the references of Montaigne and Pilate in his essay “Of Truth” . Similarly in “Of Friendship” Bacon mentions Aristotle. Bacon uses references and allusions so as to elucidate his purpose more distinctly and this also makes Bacon’s prose style more erudite and enriching.
As Bacon’s essays show, Bacon is not only a philosopher but also a moralist . A Philosopher is a person who is intensely focused on seeking truth, on the other hand, a moralist is a person who educates human beings on the difference between what is virtuous and what is evil, and encourages them to go in the right direction only. Bacon comes out in this twofold role in numerous essays that he has penned. In his essay “Of Truth,” Bacon states that truth is the ultimate virtue for mankind. In the context of the Bible, Bacon claims that in the first place God made light and the last thing that God made was rational faculty that God gave to mankind. First God passed off light upon substance; then he passed off light upon man, and subsequently, God has been always giving light into the faces of people whom he selects for his unique favor. After explaining all these, we can conclude that these are the investigations of a philosopher-cum-moralist . The main purpose of writing all these essays was that Bacon wanted to teach the importance of truth to his readers.
Bacon is regarded as one of the earliest empiricists, building his concepts on investigation of actual life not from prejudices or received facts. Bacon’s essays are a storehouse of practical knowledge. Practical knowledge is a type of knowledge that is compulsory for attaining worldly success. Bacon instructs us on how to advance in this world. Bacon also explains to us how to flourish in life and become wealthy. For example, Bacon writes his “Of Friendship” clearly from a utilitarian point of view. Bacon makes us aware of the “uses” of friendship. A friend simplifies our apprehension and his counsel is most dependable. A friend can take necessary action for us in such circumstances in which we personally cannot take action. Bacon hints to indicate that we require friends only for our worldly contentment and success. It is also noteworthy that he illustrated his essays as “Counsels, civil and moral” which suggests that he wanted his essays to give such instruction to his readers as could assist them in achieving prosperity in civil life while concurrently recognizing certain primary moral values.
Francis Bacon also wrote a philosophical work called “Novum Organum” which was his commentary on logic and syllogism. In this work Bacon proposes a new method of logic: he feels to be better to the old method of syllogism. Bacon was a genuine Renaissance man as he shared his wisdom and knowledge in many different fields like philosophy, science, logic and politics. His technique of essay writing is not adamant and authoritative but willingly he’s own and amiable. For instance in one of his essays “Of Envy” , Bacon does not start with an announcement of envy being dangerous and damaging of pleasure. His style permits him to investigate such topics with an experimental eye that connects experiences to meaning and then only finally unveils his insight and judgment on the topic. To conclude we can say that Bacon was the acute observer of life. Bacon’s essays reflect his vast experience and understanding of men and situations and also of the universe.
Critical Appreciation of Tennyson’s “Break, Break Break” Tennyson as a representative poet of Victorian age Short note on elegy Justify the title Pride and Prejudice The use of irony in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
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Over the past couple of decades, dogs have evolved into humans.
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Places of Perswasion and Disswasion. Seene and Allowed (1597) was the first published book by the philosopher, statesman and jurist Francis Bacon. The Essays are written in a wide range of styles, from the plain and unadorned to the epigrammatic. They cover topics drawn from both public and private life, and in each case the essays cover their ...
Bacon published his Essays in 1597; he considered them but as the "recreations of his other studies." The idea of them was probably first suggested by Montaigne's Essais, but there is little resemblance between the two works beyond the titles. The first edition contained but ten Essays, which were shorter than they now are.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Essays, by Francis Bacon This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Essays The Essays Or Counsels ...
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bacon's Essays and Wisdom of the Ancients, by Francis Bacon This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most ... In t he early part of the year 1597, Lord Bacon's first publication appeared. It is a small 12mo. volume, entitled "Essayes, ...
It was in 1597 that Bacon published the First Edition of his Essays. That was a little book containing only ten essays in English, with twelve "Meditationes Sacræ," which were essays in Latin on religious subjects. From 1597 onward to the end of his life, Bacon's Essays were subject to continuous addition and revision.
Essays (1597) (The first edition, containing 10 essays) Essays (1612) (The second edition, ... The Essays of Francis Bacon edited by Mary Augusta Scott (New York 1908) (transcription project) Essays, civil and moral in The Harvard Classics Vol. 3 edited by Charles W. Eliot (New York 1909)
His first book was released in 1597 followed by later editions with added essays that were released in 1612 and 1625. Each essay that Bacon wrote reveals his knowledge of Latin and draws on ancient Roman wisdom through axioms and proverbs. ... Francis Bacon's Essays cover a wide variety of topics and styles, ranging from individual to ...
Essays Francis Bacon 6. Simulation and dissimulation 8 7. Parents and children 10 8. Marriage and single life 11 9. Envy 12 10. Love 15 11. Greatness of place 16 ... Francis Bacon. (30 January, 1597.) 1. Truth What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not wait for an answer.3 There are indeed people who
This chapter situates Bacon's Essays in the early modern period as an age shaped by reforms of thought and aligns them with Bacon's targeted 'great instauration' of natural philosophy. A close reading of his essay "Of Prophecies" will illustrate how Bacon connects scientific progress to civic behaviour and governmental skills. The ...
The essays or Counsels, civil and moral of Francis Bacon [first published in 1597, and as he left them newly written and published in 1625] including also his Apophthegms, Elegant sentences and Wisdom of the ancients by Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626; Morley, Henry, 1822-1894.
Essays Summary. E ssays by Sir Francis Bacon is a 1597 essay collection.. Bacon's book explores philosophical, political, moral, and social questions. Bacon wrote at the dawn of the essay form and ...
Essays by Francis Bacon. THE ESSAYS OR COUNSELS, CIVIL AND MORAL, OF FRANCIS Ld. VERULAM VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS THE ESSAYS Of Truth Of Death Of Unity in Religion Of Revenge Of Adversity Of Simulation and Dissimulation Of Parents and Children Of Marriage and Single Life Of Envy Of Love Of Great Place Of Boldness Of Goodness and Goodness of.
The essays, or, Counsels civil and moral of Francis Bacon. — 2nd ed. — London : George Routledge and Sons, 1884. — 307 p. ... The First Edition 1597. Essays. Of Studies ; The First Edition 1597. Essays. Of Discourse ; The First Edition 1597. Essays. Of Ceremonies etc. The First Edition 1597. Essays. Of Followers etc.
Francis Bacon Bookreader Item Preview ... Essays (1597), Religious meditations, Of the colours of good and evil -- Advice to Fulke Greville on his studies -- A confession of faith -- Two prayers -- A letter and discourse to Sir Henry Savile touching helps for the intellectual powers -- The advancement of learning -- Essays (1612) -- The charge ...
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Francis Bacon, by Francis Bacon This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. ... BACON'S ESSAYS AND WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS ... 1597; enlarged 1612; and again 1625 ...
THE "EPISTLES DEDICATORIE" TO BACON'S ESSAYES By Joan W. Hall Between 1597 and 1625, Francis Bacon published three major editions of his Essayes. As the essays increased in number from ten to fifty-eight, they underwent develop-ments in style and content that have been well documented by critics.1 Bacon's dedications to the volumes form a valu-
Francis Bacon, 1561-1626. A selection of philosophy texts by philosophers of the early modern period, prepared with a view to making them easier to read while leaving intact the main arguments, doctrines, and lines of thought. Texts include the writings of Hume, Descartes, Bacon, Berkeley, Newton, Locke, Mill, Edwards, Kant, Leibniz ...
This chapter presents the first edition of Francis Bacon's essays. In his essays, Bacon discusses the following topics: Studies, discourse, ceremonies and respects, followers and friends, suitors, expense, regimen of health, honour and reputation, faction, and negotiating. ... The first edition, 1597. In F. Bacon, The essays or counsels civil ...
Bacon published three editions of his essays (in 1597, 1612, and 1625), and the last two were marked by the addition of more essays. In many cases, they became expanded works from earlier editions. This is the best-known version of the essay "Of Studies", taken from the 1625 edition of "Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral".
Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Alban, Lord Chancellor of England (1618-21) was the son of Sir Nicolas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Seal. ... fame and the loss. The original number of essays in Bacon's Essays (1597) was ten and included titles likeOf Studies,Of Discourse, Of Suitors, and Of Expense. By the year 1612, there were thirty-eight ...
Essays of Francis Bacon Francis Bacon THE ESSAYS OR COUNSELS, CIVIL AND MORAL, OF FRANCIS Ld. VERULAM VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM HIS GRACE, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND EXCELLENT LORD: SALOMON saies; A good Name is as a precious oyntment; And I assure my selfe, such wil your Graces Name ...
Francis Bacon was a famous Essayist of the 16th century and also known as the father of English prose. The collection of his essays was also titled "Essays" which was first published in 1597 and later its second edition was published in 1812 and 1625 respectively.. Bacon as an essayist penned in a methodical way, taking their subject-matter from a collection of perspectives, analyzing them ...
Over the past couple of decades, dogs have evolved into humans. Well, at least that's how we think of them now. Some 97 percent of U.S. pet owners consider dogs (or other pets) part of their ...
Bacon's Essays Bookreader Item Preview ... Bacon's Essays by Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626; Humphries, Sydney, 1862-1941; Bagnani, Gilbert, 1900-1985 (association) Publication date 1912 Publisher London : A. & C. Black Collection thomasfisher; toronto Contributor Fisher - University of Toronto