A Book of English Prose | Page 8

politic society, there is a third kind of law which toucheth all
such several bodies politic, so far forth as one of them hath public
commerce with another. And this third is the Law of Nations. Between
men and beasts there is no possibility of social communion, because the
well-spring of that communion is a natural delight which man hath to
transfuse from himself into others, and to receive from others into
himself especially those things wherein the excellency of his kind doth
most consist. The chiefest instrument of human communion therefore is
speech, because thereby we impart mutually one to another the conceits
of our reasonable understanding. And for that cause seeing beasts are
not hereof capable, forasmuch as with them we can use no such
conference, they being in degree, although above other creatures on
earth to whom nature hath denied sense, yet lower than to be sociable
companions of man to whom nature hath given reason; it is of Adam
said that amongst the beasts "he found not for himself any meet
companion." Civil society doth more content the nature of man than
any private kind of solitary living, because in society this good of
mutual participation is so much larger than otherwise. Herewith
notwithstanding we are not satisfied, but we covet {17} (if it might be)
to have a kind of society and fellowship even with all mankind. Which
thing Socrates intending to signify professed himself a citizen, not of
this or that commonwealth, but of the world. And an effect of that very
natural desire in us (a manifest token that we wish after a sort an
universal fellowship with all men) appeareth by the wonderful delight
men have, some to visit foreign countries, some to discover nations not
heard of in former ages, we all to know the affairs and dealings of other

people, yea to be in league of amity with them: and this not only for
traffic's sake, or to the end that when many are confederated each may
make other the more strong; but for such cause also as moved the
Queen of Saba to visit Solomon; and in a word, because nature doth
presume that how many men there are in the world, so many gods as it
were there are, or at leastwise such they should be towards men.
(Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity.)

FRANCIS BACON 1561-1626
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 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 the marshalling of affairs,
come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in {18}
studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to
make judgment 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 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. 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
{19} out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have
appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone