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Of Riches
by Francis Bacon |
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I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman
word is better, impedimenta. For as the baggage is to an army, so is
riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it
hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it, sometimes loseth or
disturbeth the victory. Of great riches there is no real use, except
it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit. So saith
Solomon, Where much is, there are many consume it; and what hath the
owner, but the sight of it with his eyes? The personal fruition in any
man, cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody of them; or
a power of dole, and donative of them; or a fame of them; but no solid
use to the owner. Do you not see what feigned prices, are set upon
little stones and rarities? and what works of ostentation are
undertaken, because there might seem to be some use of great riches?
But then you will say, they may be of use, to buy men out of dangers
or troubles. As Solomon saith, Riches are as a strong hold, in the
imagination of the rich man. But this is excellently expressed, that
it is in imagination, and not always in fact. For certainly great
riches, have sold more men, than they have bought out. Seek not
proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly,
distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. Yet have no abstract nor
friarly contempt of them. But distinguish, as Cicero saith well of
Rabirius Posthumus, In studio rei amplificandae apparebat, non
avaritiae praedam, sed instrumentum bonitati quaeri. Harken also to
Solomon, and beware of hasty gathering of riches; Qui festinat ad
divitias, non erit insons. The poets feign, that when Plutus (which is
Riches) is sent from Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but when he is
sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot. Meaning that riches
gotten by good means, and just labor, pace slowly; but when they
come by the death of others (as by the course of inheritance,
testaments, and the like), they come tumbling upon a man. But it
mought be applied likewise to Pluto, taking him for the devil. For
when riches come from the devil (as by fraud and oppression, and
unjust means), they come upon speed. The ways to enrich are many,
and most of them foul. Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not
innocent; for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity.
The improvement of the ground, is the most natural obtaining of
riches; for it is our great mother's blessing, the earth's; but it
is slow. And yet where men of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it
multiplieth riches exceedingly. I knew a nobleman in England, that had
the greatest audits of any man in my time; a great grazier, a great
sheep-master, a great timber man, a great collier, a great
corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, and a number of the
like points of husbandry. So as the earth seemed a sea to him, in
respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one,
that himself came very hardly, to a little riches, and very easily, to
great riches. For when a man's stock is come to that, that he can
expect the prime of markets, and overcome those bargains, which for
their greatness are few men's money, and be partner in the
industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly. The gains of
ordinary trades and vocations are honest; and furthered by two
things chiefly: by diligence, and by a good name, for good and fair
dealing. But the gains of bargains, are of a more doubtful nature;
when men shall wait upon others' necessity, broke by servants and
instruments to draw them on, put off others cunningly, that would be
better chapmen, and the like practices, which are crafty and naught.
As for the chopping of bargains, when a man buys not to hold but to
sell over again, that commonly grindeth double, both upon the
seller, and upon the buyer. Sharings do greatly enrich, if the hands
be well chosen, that are trusted. Usury is the certainest means of
gain, though one of the worst; as that whereby a man doth eat his
bread, in sudore vultus alieni; and besides, doth plough upon Sundays.
But yet certain though it be, it hath flaws; for that the scriveners
and brokers do value unsound men, to serve their own turn. The fortune
in being the first, in an invention or in a privilege, doth cause
sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in riches; as it was with the with
the first sugar man, in the Canaries. Therefore if a man can play
the true logician, to have as well judgment, as invention, he may do
great matters; especially if the times be fit. He that resteth upon
gains certain, shall hardly grow to great riches; and he that puts all
upon adventures, doth oftentimes break and come to poverty: it is
good, therefore, to guard adventures with certainties, that may uphold
losses. Monopolies, and coemption of wares for re-sale, where they are
not restrained, are great means to enrich; especially if the party
have intelligence, what things are like to come into request, and so
store himself beforehand. Riches gotten by service, though it be of
the best rise, yet when they are gotten by flattery, feeding humors,
and other servile conditions, they may be placed amongst the worst. As
for fishing for testaments and executorships (as Tacitus saith of
Seneca, testamenta et orbos tamquam indagine capi), it is yet worse;
by how much men submit themselves to meaner persons, than in
service. Believe not much, them that seem to despise riches for they
despise them, that despair of them; and none worse, when they come
to them. Be not penny-wise; riches have wings, and sometimes they
fly away of themselves, sometimes they must be set flying, to bring in
more. Men leave their riches, either to their kindred, or to the
public; and moderate portions, prosper best in both. A great state
left to an heir, is as a lure to all the birds of prey round about, to
seize on him, if he be not the better stablished in years and
judgment. Likewise glorious gifts and foundations, are like sacrifices
without salt; and but the painted sepulchres of alms, which soon
will putrefy, and corrupt inwardly. Therefore measure not thine
advancements, by quantity, but frame them by measure: and defer not
charities till death; for, certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he
that doth so, is rather liberal of another man's, than of his own.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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