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Of Seeming Wise
by Francis Bacon |
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It hath been an opinion, that the French are wiser than they seem,
and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are. But howsoever it be
between nations, certainly it is so between man and man. For as the
Apostle saith of godliness, Having a show of godliness, but denying
the power thereof; so certainly there are, in point of wisdom and
sufficiently, that do nothing or little very solemnly: magno conatu
nugas. It is a ridiculous thing, and fit for a satire to persons of
judgment, to see what shifts these formalists have, and what
prospectives to make superficies to seem body, that hath depth and
bulk. Some are so close and reserved, as they will not show their
wares, but by a dark light; and seem always to keep back somewhat; and
when they know within themselves, they speak of that they do not
well know, would nevertheless seem to others, to know of that which
they may not well speak. Some help themselves with countenance and
gesture, and are wise by signs; as Cicero saith of Piso, that when
he answered him he fetched one of his brows up to his forehead, and
bent the other down to his chin; Respondes, altero ad frontem sublato,
altero ad mentum depresso supercilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere.
Some think to bear it by speaking a great word, and being
peremptory; and go on, and take by admittance, that which they
cannot make good. Some, whatsoever is beyond their reach, will seem to
despise, or make light of it, as impertinent or curious; and so
would have their ignorance seem judgment. Some are never without a
difference, and commonly by amusing men with a subtilty, blanch the
matter; of whom A. Gellius saith, Hominem delirum, qui verborum
minutiis rerum frangit pondera. Of which kind also, Plato, in his
Protagoras, bringeth in Prodius in scorn, and maketh him make a
speech, that consisteth of distinction from the beginning to the
end. Generally, such men in all deliberations find ease to be of the
negative side, and affect a credit to object and foretell
difficulties; for when propositions are denied, there is an end of
them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a new work; which false
point of wisdom is the bane of business. To conclude, there is no
decaying merchant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to uphold the
credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have, to maintain the
credit of their sufficiency. Seeming wise men may make shift to get
opinion; but let no man choose them for employment; for certainly
you were better take for business, a man somewhat absurd, than
over-formal.
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contact: morgan at [email protected] page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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