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Of Followers and Friends
by Francis Bacon |
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Costly followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his
train longer, he make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not
them alone which charge the purse, but which are wearisome, and
importune in suits. Ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher
conditions, than countenance, recommendation, and protection from
wrongs. Factious followers are worse to be liked, which follow not
upon affection to him, with whom they range themselves, but upon
discontentment conceived against some other; whereupon commonly
ensueth that ill intelligence, that we many times see between great
personages. Likewise glorious followers, who make themselves as
trumpets of the commendation of those they follow, are full of
inconvenience; for they taint business through want of secrecy; and
they export honor from a man, and make him a return in envy. There
is a kind of followers likewise, which are dangerous, being indeed
espials; which inquire the secrets of the house, and bear tales of
them, to others. Yet such men, many times, are in great favor; for
they are officious, and commonly exchange tales. The following by
certain estates of men, answerable to that, which a great person
himself professeth (as of soldiers, to him that hath been employed
in the wars, and the like), hath ever been a thing civil, and well
taken, even in monarchies; so it be without too much pomp or
popularity. But the most honorable kind of following, is to be
followed as one, that apprehendeth to advance virtue, and desert, in
all sorts of persons. And yet, where there is no eminent odds in
sufficiency, it is better to take with the more passable, than with
the more able. And besides, to speak truth, in base times, active
men are of more use than virtuous. It is true that in government, it
is good to use men of one rank equally: for to countenance some
extraordinarily, is to make them insolent, and the rest discontent;
because they may claim a due. But contrariwise, in favor, to use men
with much difference and election is good; for it maketh the persons
preferred more thankful, and the rest more officious: because all is
of favor. It is good discretion, not to make too much of any man at
the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion. To be governed
(as we call it) by one is not safe; for it shows softness, and gives a
freedom, to scandal and disreputation; for those, that would not
censure or speak in of a man immediately, will talk more boldly of
those that are so great with them, and thereby wound their honor.
Yet to be distracted with many is worse; for it makes men to be of the
last impression, and fun of change. To take advice of some few
friends, is ever honorable; for lookers-on many times see more than
gamesters; and the vale best discovereth the hill. There is little
friendship in the world, and least of all between equals, which was
wont to be magnified. That that is, is between superior and
inferior, whose fortunes may comprehend the one the other.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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