Innovateth greatly, but quietly and by degrees scarce to be perceived: For otherwise, whatsoever is New is unlocked for; And ever it mends Some and paires[1] Other: And he that is holpen[2] takes it for a Fortune and thanks the Time; And he that is hurt, for a wrong, and imputeth it to the Author. It is good also not to try Experiments in States, Except the Necessity be Urgent, or the utility Evident: And well to beware[3] that it be the Reformation that draweth on the Change, And not the desire of Change that pretendeth the Reformation.[4] And lastly, that the Novelty, though it be not reiected, yet be held for a Suspect;[5] And, as the Scripture saith, That we make a stand upon the Ancient Way, and then looke about us, and discover what is the straight and right way, and so to walke in it.
XXV
OF DISPATCH
Affected Dispatch[6] is one of the most dangerous things to Businesse that can be. It is like that which the Physicians call Predigestion, or Hasty Digestion, which is sure to fill the Body full of Crudities[7] and secret Seeds of Diseases. Therefore, measure not Dispatch by the Times of Sitting, but by the Advancement of the Businesse. And as in Races, it is not the large Stride, or High Lift,[8] that makes the Speed; So in Businesse, the Keeping close to the matter, and not Taking of it too much at once, procureth Dispatch. It is the Care of Some onely to come off speedily for the time,[9] Or to contrive some false Periods of Businesse,[10] because[11] they may seeme Men of Dispatch.
- ↑ impairs, injures
- ↑ helped
- ↑ to take good care
- ↑ that put forward the reformation as a pretext
- ↑ be regarded as a suspected thing
- ↑ An excessive desire for dispatch
- ↑ undigested morsels
- ↑ stepping
- ↑ as regard the time taken
- ↑ i.e. to make it seem that the business is finished when it is not really finished
- ↑ in order that
