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Of Fortune
by Francis Bacon |
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It cannot be denied, but outward accidents conduce much to
fortune; favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue.
But chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands. Faber
quisque fortunae suae, saith the poet. And the most frequent of
external causes is, that the folly of one man, is the fortune of
another. For no man prospers so suddenly, as by others' errors.
Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit draco. Overt and apparent
virtues, bring forth praise; but there be secret and hidden virtues,
that bring forth fortune; certain deliveries of a man's self, which
have no name. The Spanish name, desemboltura, partly expresseth
them; when there be not stonds nor restiveness in a man's nature;
but that the wheels of his mind, keep way with the wheels of his
fortune. For so Livy (after he had described Cato Major in these
words, In illo viro tantum robur corporis et animi fuit, ut
quocunque loco natus esset, fortunam sibi facturus videretur)
falleth upon that, that he had versatile ingenium. Therefore if a
man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune: for though she
be blind, yet she is not invisible. The way of fortune, is like the
Milken Way in the sky; which is a meeting or knot of a number of small
stars; not seen asunder, but giving light together. So are there a
number of little, and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties
and customs, that make men fortunate. The Italians note some of
them, such as a man would little think. When they speak of one that
cannot do amiss, they will throw in, into his other conditions, that
he hath Poco di matto. And certainly there be not two more fortunate
properties, than to have a little of the fool, and not too much of the
honest. Therefore extreme lovers of their country or masters, were
never fortunate, neither can they be. For when a man placeth his
thoughts without himself, he goeth not his own way. An hasty fortune
maketh an enterpriser and remover (the French hath it better,
entreprenant, or remuant); but the exercised fortune maketh the able
man. Fortune is to be honored and respected, and it be but for her
daughters, Confidence and Reputation. For those two, Felicity
breedeth; the first within a man's self, the latter in others
towards him. All wise men, to decline the envy of their own virtues,
use to ascribe them to Providence and Fortune; for so they may the
better assume them: and, besides, it is greatness in a man, to be
the care of the higher powers. So Caesar said to the pilot in the
tempest, Caesarem portas, et fortunam ejus. So Sylla chose the name of
Felix, and not of Magnus. And it hath been noted, that those who
ascribe openly too much to their own wisdom and policy, end
infortunate. It is written that Timotheus the Athenian, after he
had, in the account he gave to the state of his government, often
interlaced this speech, and in this, Fortune had no part, never
prospered in anything, he undertook afterwards. Certainly there be,
whose fortunes are like Homer's verses, that have a slide and easiness
more than the verses of other poets; as Plutarch saith of Timoleon's
fortune, in respect of that of Agesilaus or Epaminondas. And that this
should be, no doubt it is much, in a man's self.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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