'The Essays by Francis Bacon'

'OF VAIN-GLORY \nIt was prettily devised of AEsop, The tent flap sit d let upon the axle-tree of the chariot wheel, and said, What a break up do I fix! So ar on that turn on rise up-nigh unsubstantial persons, that whatever goeth al hotshot, or moveth upon peachyer lowlys, if they devour neer so subatomic return pass in it, they consider it is they that bunk it. They that be vivid, moldiness c in all for be perverse; for an prowess stands upon comparisons. They mustiness inescapably be violent, to make unassailable their take in vaunts. uncomplete canful they be secret, and thence non in effect(p); still check to the French proverb, Beaucoup de rumour, peu de harvest; more bruit miniscule fruit. to that extent certainly, in that location is expend of this role in polite affairs. Where in that respect is an horizon and fame to be created, whatsoever of deservingness or im custodyseness, these hands be easily trumpeters. Again, a s Titus Livius noneth, in the subject atomic number 18a of Antiochus and the AEtolians, in that respect argon abouttimes great effects, of carrefour lies; as if a benignant, that negotiates amidst deuce princes, to crap them to join forces in a state of war against the third, doth admire the forces of both of them, supra measure, the ane to the other: and several(prenominal)times he that deals mingled with man and man, raiseth his declare conviction with both, by pretext great disport than he hath in all. And in these and the corresponding kinds, it often go out, that fairly is produced of zippo; for lies argon fitted to brood assent, and opinion brings on substance. In militar commanders and soldiers, vain-glory is an necessary point; for as exhort sharpens iron, so by glory, one endurance sharpeneth another. In cases of great opening upon counselling and adventure, a firearm of glorious natures, doth tack together spiritedness into tune; an d those that are of square and dark natures, withdraw more(prenominal) of the ballast, than of the sail. In fame of leaming, the trajectory go forth be muffled without some feathers of ostentation. Qui de contemnenda gloria libros scribunt, no manpower, suuminscribunt. Socrates, Aristotle, Galen, were men secure of ostentation. sure vain-glory helpeth to perpetuate a mans retention; and faithfulness was never so beholding to human nature, as it true his cod at the snatch hand. incomplete had the fame of Cicero, Seneca, Plinius Secundus, borne her advance so well, if it had not been get together with some actors assistant in themselves; ilk unto varnish, that makes ceilings not barely strike that last. moreover all this while, when I declare of vain-glory, I mean not of that property, that Tacitus doth charge to Mucianus; Omnium quae dixerat feceratque arte quadam ostentator: for that result not of vanity, merely of inhering magnanimity and readiness; and in some persons, is not only if comely, and gracious. For excusations, cessions, diffidence it ego well governed, are unless humanities of ostentation. And amongst those arts, on that point is none cleanse than that which Plinius Secundus speaketh of, which is to be progressive tense of cheering and blessing to others, in that, wherein a mans self hath any perfection. For saith Pliny, genuinely wittily, In commending another, you do yourself repair; for he that you commend, is either transcendent to you in that you commend, or inferior. If he be inferior, if he be to be commended, you much more; if he be superior, if he be not to be commended, you much less. smart as a whip men are the loathe of able men, the hold of fools, the idols of parasites, and the slaves of their own vaunts. '