Essays of Francis Bacon | Page 7

betraying; by how
much it is many times more marked, and believed, than a man's words.
For the second, which is dissimulation; it followeth many times upon
secrecy, by a necessity; so that he that will be secret, must be a
dissembler in some degree. For men are too cunning, to suffer a man to
keep an indifferent carriage between both, and to be secret, without
swaying the balance on either side. They will so beset a man with

questions, and draw him on, and pick it out of him, that, without an
absurd silence, he must show an inclination one way; or if he do not,
they will gather as much by his silence, as by his speech. As for
equivocations, or oraculous speeches, they cannot hold out long. So
that no man can be secret, except he give himself a little scope of
dissimulation; which is, as it were, but the skirts or train of secrecy.
But for the third degree, which is simulation, and false profession; that
I hold more culpable, and less politic; except it be in great and rare
matters. And therefore a general custom of simulation (which is this
last degree) is a vice, using either of a natural falseness or fearfulness,
or of a mind that hath some main faults, which because a man must
needs disguise, it maketh him practise simulation in other things, lest
his hand should be out of use.
The great advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three. First, to
lay asleep opposition, and to surprise. For where a man's intentions are
published, it is an alarum, to call up all that are against them. The
second is, to reserve to a man's self a fair retreat. For if a man engage
himself by a manifest declaration, he must go through or take a fall.
The third is, the better to discover the mind of another. For to him that
opens himself, men will hardly show themselves adverse; but will fair
let him go on, and turn their freedom of speech, to freedom of thought.
And therefore it is a good shrewd proverb of the Spaniard, Tell a lie
and find a troth. As if there were no way of discovery, but by
simulation. There be also three disadvantages, to set it even. The first,
that simulation and dissimulation commonly carry with them a show of
fearfulness, which in any business, doth spoil the feathers, of round
flying up to the mark. The second, that it puzzleth and perplexeth the
conceits of many, that perhaps would otherwise co-operate with him;
and makes a man walk almost alone, to his own ends. The third and
greatest is, that it depriveth a man of one of the most principal
instruments for action; which is trust and belief. The best composition
and temperature, is to have openness in fame and opinion; secrecy in
habit; dissimulation in seasonable use; and a power to feign, if there be
no remedy.

Of Parents
AND CHILDREN

THE joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears. They
cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other. Children sweeten
labors; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the cares
of life; but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by
generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works,
are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and
foundations have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to
express the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have
failed. So the care of posterity is most in them, that have no posterity.
They that are the first raisers of their houses, are most indulgent
towards their children; beholding them as the continuance, not only of
their kind, but of their work; and so both children and creatures.
The difference in affection, of parents towards their several children, is
many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy; especially in the
mothers; as Solomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an
ungracious son shames the mother. A man shall see, where there is a
house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected, and the
youngest made wantons; but in the midst, some that are as it were
forgotten, who many times, nevertheless, prove the best. The
illiberality of parents, in allowance towards their children, is an harmful
error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them sort
with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to
plenty. And therefore the proof is best, when men keep their authority
towards the children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner
(both parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding
an emulation between brothers, during childhood, which