Of Studies

[老王]

OF Studies

written by  Francis Bacon

 

Studies serve for delight ,for ornament ,and for ability.Their chief use for delight is in prinvteness and retiring;for ornament,is in dicourse;and for ability,is in the judgement and disposition of business. For expert men can execute,and perhaos judge of particulars,one by one ;but the general counsels and the plots and marshallingof affairs,come best form those that are learned.

 

To spend too much time in srudies is sloth;to use them too much for ornament is affectation ;to make judgment wholly by their rules,is the humor of a scholar.They pefect nature ,and are pefected by experience:for natural abilities are like natural plants,that need pruning by study;and studies themselves do giefe forth directions too much at large ,except they be bounded in by experience.

Crafty men contemn studies ,simple men admire them,and wise use them ; for they teach not their own use;but that

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