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Of Great Place
by Francis Bacon |
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Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or
state; servants of fame; and servants of business. So as they have
no freedom; neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in
their times. It is a strange desire, to seek power and to lose
liberty: or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a
man's self. The rising unto place is laborious; and by pains, men come
to greater pains; and it is sometimes base; and by indignities, men
come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either
a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing. Cum
non sis qui fueris, non esse cur velis vivere. Nay, retire men
cannot when they would, neither will they, when it were reason; but
are impatient of privateness, even in age and sickness, which
require the shadow; like old townsmen, that will be still sitting at
their street door, though thereby they offer age to scorn. Certainly
great persons had need to borrow other men's opinions, to think
themselves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they
cannot find it; but if they think with themselves, what other men
think of them, and that other men would fain be, as they are, then
they are happy, as it were, by report; when perhaps they find the
contrary within. For they are the first, that find their own griefs,
though they be the last, that find their own faults. Certainly men
in great fortunes are strangers to themselves, and while they are in
the puzzle of business, they have no time to tend their health, either
of body or mind. Illi mors gravis incubat, qui notus nimis omnibus,
ignotus moritur sibi. In place, there is license to do good, and evil;
whereof the latter is a curse: for in evil the best condition is not
to will; the second, not to can. But power to do good, is the true and
lawful end of aspiring. For good thoughts (though God accept them)
yet, towards men, are little better than good dreams, except they be
put in act; and that cannot be, without power and place, as the
vantage, and commanding ground. Merit and good works, is the end of
man's motion; and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of
man's rest. For if a man can be partaker of God's theatre, he shall
likewise be partaker of God's rest. Et conversus Deus, ut aspiceret
opera quae fecerunt manus suae, vidit quod omnia essent bona nimis;
and then the sabbath. In the discharge of thy place, set before thee
the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precepts. And after a
time, set before thee thine own example; and examine thyself strictly,
whether thou didst not best at first. Neglect not also the examples,
of those that have carried themselves ill, in the same place; not to
set off thyself, by taxing their memory, but to direct thyself, what
to avoid. Reform therefore, without bravery, or scandal of former
times and persons; but yet set it down to thyself, as well to create
good precedents, as to follow them. Reduce things to the first
institution, and observe wherein, and how, they have degenerate; but
yet ask counsel of both times; of the ancient time, what is best;
and of the latter time, what is fittest. Seek to make thy course
regular, that men may know beforehand, what they may expect; but be
not too positive and peremptory; and express thyself well, when thou
digressest from thy rule. Preserve the right of thy place; but stir
not questions of jurisdiction; and rather assume thy right, in silence
and de facto, than voice it with claims, and challenges. Preserve
likewise the rights of inferior places; and think it more honor, to
direct in chief, than to be busy in all. Embrace and invite helps, and
advices, touching the execution of thy place; and do not drive away
such, as bring thee information, as meddlers; but accept of them in
good part. The vices of authority are chiefly four: delays,
corruption, roughness, and facility. For delays: give easy access;
keep times appointed; go through with that which is in hand, and
interlace not business, but of necessity. For corruption: do not
only bind thine own hands, or, thy servants' hands, from taking, but
bind the hands of suitors also, from offering. For integrity used doth
the one; but integrity professed, and with a manifest detestation of
bribery, doth the other. And avoid not only the fault, but the
suspicion. Whosoever is found variable, and changeth manifestly
without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption. Therefore
always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it
plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to
change; and do not think to steal it. A servant or a favorite, if he
be inward, and no other apparent cause of esteem, is commonly thought,
but a by-way to close corruption. For roughness: it is a needless
cause of discontent: severity breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth
hate. Even reproofs from authority, ought to be grave, and not
taunting. As for facility: it is worse than bribery. For bribes come
but now and then; but if importunity, or idle respects, lead a man, he
shall never be without. As Solomon saith, To respect persons is not
good; for such a man will transgress for a piece of bread. It is
most true, that was anciently spoken, A place showeth the man. And
it showeth some to the better, and some to the worse. Omnium
consensu capax imperii, nisi imperasset, saith Tacitus of Galba; but
of Vespasian he saith, Solus imperantium, Vespasianus mutatus in
melius; though the one was meant of sufficiency, the other of manners,
and affection. It is an assured sign of a worthy and generous
spirit, whom honor amends. For honor is, or should be, the place of
virtue and as in nature, things move violently to their place, and
calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in
authority settled and calm. All rising to great place is by a
winding star; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's
self, whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is
placed. Use the memory of thy predecessor, fairly and tenderly; for if
thou dost not, it is a debt will sure be paid when thou art gone. If
thou have colleagues, respect them, and rather call them, when they
look not for it, than exclude them, when they have reason to look to
be called. Be not too sensible, or too remembering, of thy place in
conversation, and private answers to suitors; but let it rather be
said, When he sits in place, he is another man.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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