The Essays of Francis Bacon/VII Of Parents and Children

by Francis Bacon

VII. Of Parents and Children.

The joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears. They cannot utter the one; nor they will not^[1] utter the other. Children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the cares of life; but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations^[2] have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to express the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them that have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses^[3] are most indulgent towards their children; beholding them as the continuance not only of their kind but of their work; and so both children and creatures.^[4]

The difference in affection of parents towards their several children is many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy; especially in the mother; as Salomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother.^[5] A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons;^[6] but in the midst some that are as it were forgotten, who many times nevertheless prove the best. The illiberality of parents in allowance towards their children is an harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them sort^[7] with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof^[8] is best, when men keep their authority towards their children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an emulation between brothers during childhood, which many times sorteth^[9] to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children and nephews or near kinsfolks; but so they be of the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And to say truth, in nature it is much a like matter; insomuch that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle or a kinsman more than his own parents; as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations and courses they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible; and let them not too much apply themselves to the disposition of their children, as thinking they will take best to that which they have most mind to. It is true, that if the affections^[10] or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, optimum elige, suave et facile illud faciet consuetudo.^[11] Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or never where the elder are disinherited.

1. Nor will they not means simply nor will they. It is the old English double negative used to strengthen the negation. Here the two negatives happen to make an affirmative, but that is by no means always the case, nor is the common statement of modern grammars that two negatives make an affirmative an adequate explanation of the idiom.
2. Foundations. Endowments, institutions, such as colleges, or hospitals.
3. Houses. Families of rank.
4. Creature. A created thing, animate or inanimate; a creation.
5. Proverbs x. 1.
6. Wantons. Spoiled children.
7. Sort. Associate.

   "I will not sort you with the rest of my servants."
   

   Shakspere. Hamlet. ii. 2.

8. Proof. Things proved; fact, result.

   "But 't is a common proof,
   That lowliness is young ambition's ladder."
   

   Shakspere. Julius Caesar. ii. 1.

9. Sorteth. Sort here means to happen; to turn out.

   "Well, I am glad that all things sort so well."
   

   Shakspere. Much Ado About Nothing. v. 4.

10. Affection. Disposition towards; inclination, bent.
11. Choose the best, and custom will make it pleasant and easy. A saying of Pythagoras, quoted by Plutarch, De Exilio. 8.
    "Maxims to make one get up:
    1st. Optimum eligete, et consuetudo faciet jucundissimum.
    2d. I must get up at last, it will be as difficult then as now.
    3d. By getting up I gain health, knowledge, temper, and animal spirits."
    A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith. By his Daughter, Lady Holland. Edited by Mrs. Austin. Vol. I. p. 171 (Third edition. 1855).