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Of Ambition
by Francis Bacon |
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Ambition is like choler; which is an humor that maketh men active,
earnest, full of alacrity, and stirring, if it be not stopped. But
if it be stopped, and cannot have his way, it becometh adust, and
thereby malign and venomous. So ambitious men, if they find the way
open for their rising, and still get forward, they are rather busy
than dangerous; but if they be checked in their desires, they become
secretly discontent, and look upon men and matters with an evil eye,
and are best pleased, when things go backward; which is the worst
property in a servant of a prince, or state. Therefore it is good
for princes, if they use ambitious men, to handle it, so as they be
still progressive and not retrograde; which, because it cannot be
without inconvenience, it is good not to use such natures at all.
For if they rise not with their service, they will take order, to make
their service fall with them. But since we have said, it were good not
to use men of ambitious natures, except it be upon necessity, it is
fit we speak, in what cases they are of necessity. Good commanders
in the wars must be taken, be they never so ambitious; for the use
of their service, dispenseth with the rest; and to take a soldier
without ambition, is to pull off his spurs. There is also great use of
ambitious men, in being screens to princes in matters of danger and
envy; for no man will take that part, except he be like a seeled dove,
that mounts and mounts, because he cannot see about him. There is
use also of ambitious men, in pulling down the greatness of any
subject that over-tops; as Tiberius used Marco, in the pulling down of
Sejanus. Since, therefore, they must be used in such cases, there
resteth to speak, how they are to be bridled, that they may be less
dangerous. There is less danger of them, if they be of mean birth,
than if they be noble; and if they be rather harsh of nature, than
gracious and popular: and if they be rather new raised, than grown
cunning, and fortified, in their greatness. It is counted by some, a
weakness in princes, to have favorites; but it is, of all others,
the best remedy against ambitious great-ones. For when the way of
pleasuring, and displeasuring, lieth by the favorite, it is impossible
any other should be overgreat. Another means to curb them, is to
balance them by others, as proud as they. But then there must be
some middle counsellors, to keep things steady; for without that
ballast, the ship will roll too much. At the least, a prince may
animate and inure some meaner persons, to be as it were scourges, to
ambitions men. As for the having of them obnoxious to ruin; if they be
of fearful natures, it may do well; but if they be stout and daring,
it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous. As for the
pulling of them down, if the affairs require it, and that it may not
be done with safety suddenly, the only way is the interchange,
continually, of favors and disgraces; whereby they may not know what
to expect, and be, as it were, in a wood. Of ambitions, it is less
harmful, the ambition to prevail in great things, than that other,
to appear in every thing; for that breeds confusion, and mars
business. But yet it is less danger, to have an ambitious man stirring
in business, than great in dependences. He that seeketh to be
eminent amongst able men, hath a great task; but that is ever good for
the public. But he, that plots to be the only figure amongst
ciphers, is the decay of a whole age. Honor hath three things in it:
the vantage ground to do good; the approach to kings and principal
persons; and the raising of a man's own fortunes. He that hath the
best of these intentions, when he aspireth, is an honest man; and that
prince, that can discern of these intentions in another that aspireth,
is a wise prince. Generally, let princes and states choose such
ministers, as are more sensible of duty than of rising; and such as
love business rather upon conscience, than upon bravery, and let
them discern a busy nature, from a willing mind.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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