able to Examine or debate Matters. And yet commonly they take advantage of their Inability, and would be thought Wits of direction.[1] Some build rather upon the Abusing[2] of others, and (as we now say) Putting Tricks upon them, Then upon Soundnesse of their own proceedings. But Salomon saith, Prudens advertit ad Gressus suos: Stultus divertit ad Dolos.[3]
XXIII
OF WISEDOME FOR A MAN'S SELFE
An Ant is a wise Creature for it Selfe, But it is a shrewd[4] Thing in an Orchard or Garden. And certainly, Men that are great Lovers of Themselves waste the Publique. Divide with reason betweene Selfe-love and Society; And be so true to thy Selfe as[5] thou be not false to Others, Specially to thy King and Country. It is a poore Center of a Man s Actions, Himselfe. It is right Earth;[6] For that onely[7] stands fast upon his[8] owne Center; Whereas all Things that have Affinity with the Heavens move upon the Center of another, which they benefit. The Referring of all to a Man's Selfe is more tolerable in a Soveraigne Prince, Because Themselves are not onely Themselves, But their Good and Evill is at the perill[9] of the Publique Fortune: But it is a desperate Evill in a Servant to a Prince, or a Citizen in a Republique; For whatsoever Affaires passe such a Man's Hands, he crooketh[10] them to his owne Ends, Which must needs be often Eccentrick to[11] the Ends of his Master or State. Therefore let Princes or States choose
- ↑ would like to be taken for men of special ability in directing other people
- ↑ deceiving
- ↑ The wise man looks to his own steps: the fool turns aside to the snare.
- ↑ mischievous
- ↑ be true to thyself in such a way that
- ↑ It is just like the earth
- ↑ For the earth alone
- ↑ its
- ↑ involves the good or evil
- ↑ bends
- ↑ different from
