The Essays of Francis Bacon/XL Of Fortune

by Francis Bacon

XL. Of Fortune.

It cannot be denied, but outward accidents conduce much to fortune; favour, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue. But chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands. Faber quisque fortunæ suæ,^[1] saith the poet. And the most frequent of external causes is, that the folly of one man is the fortune of another. For no man prospers so suddenly as by others' errors. Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit draco.^[2] Overt and apparent^[3] virtues bring forth praise; but there be secret and hidden virtues that bring forth fortune; certain deliveries of a man's self, which have no name. The Spanish name, desemboltura,^[4] partly expresseth them; when there be not stonds nor restiveness in a man's nature; but that the wheels of his mind keep way^[5] with the wheels of his fortune. For so Livy (after he had described Cato Major^[6] in these words, In illo viro tantum robur corporis et animi fuit, ut quocunque loco natus esset, fortunam sibi facturus videretur)^[7] falleth upon that, that he had versatile ingenium.^[8] Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune: for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible. The way of fortune is like the milken way^[9] in the sky; which is a meeting or knot of a number of small stars; not seen asunder, but giving light together. So are there a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate. The Italians note some of them, such as a man would little think. When they speak of one that cannot do amiss, they will throw in into his other conditions, that he hath Poco di matto.^[10] And certainly there be not two more fortunate properties, than to have a little of the fool, and not too much of the honest. Therefore extreme lovers of their country or masters were never fortunate, neither can they be. For when a man placeth his thoughts without himself, he goeth not his own way. An hasty fortune maketh an enterpriser^[11] and remover;^[12] (the French hath it better, entreprenant, or remuant;) but the exercised fortune maketh the able man. Fortune is to be honoured and respected, and it be but for her daughters, Confidence and Reputation. For those two felicity breedeth; the first within a man's self, the latter in others towards him. All wise men, to decline^[13] the envy of their own virtues, use to ascribe them to Providence and Fortune; for so they may the better assume them: and, besides, it is greatness in a man to be the care of the higher powers. So Cæsar said to the pilot in the tempest, Cæsarem portas, et fortunam ejus.^[14] So Sylla chose the name of Felix, and not of Magnus.^[15] And it hath been noted, that those who ascribe openly too much to their own wisdom and policy, end infortunate. It is written that Timotheus^[16] the Athenian, after he had, in the account he gave to the state of his government, often interlaced this speech, and in this Fortune had no part, never prospered in any thing he undertook afterwards. Certainly there be, whose fortunes are like Homer's verses, that have a slide^[17] and easiness more than the verses of other poets; as Plutarch saith of Timoleon's^[18] fortune, in respect of that of Agesilaus or Epaminondas.^[19] And that this should be, no doubt it is much in a man's self.

1. Every man is the maker of his own fortune. It is a Latin epigram of Bacon's, making in four words a short cut through eight words of Plautus:

   Nam sapiens quidem pol ipsus fingit fortunam sibi.

   For indeed the wise man really makes his own fortune for himself.Plautus. Trinummus. II. ii. 82.
2. Unless the serpent has devoured a serpent, it does not become a dragon.
3. Apparent. Manifest to the understanding, evident, plain.

   "It may be, these apparent prodigies,
   The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
   And the persuasion of his augurers,
   May hold him from the Capitol to-day."
   

   Shakspere. Julius Caesar. ii. 1.

4. Desemboltura for desenvoltura (from desenvolver, to unroll, unfold). Graceful and easy delivery of one's sentiments and thoughts.
5. Keep way. To keep pace.
6. Marcus Porcius Cato, surnamed 'the Censor' and Priscus, 234–149 B.C., Roman statesman, general, and writer.
7. In that man there was so much strength of body and of mind, that in whatever place he had been born, it seems he would have made a fortune for himself. (In hoc viro tanta vis animi ingeniique fuit, ut quocunque loco natus esset, fortunam sibi ipse facturus fuisse videretur. T. Livii Patavini Historiarum Ab Urbe Condita Liber XXXIX. Caput 40.)
8. A mind easily turned from one thing to another.
9. Milken way. The galaxy, or milky way; a luminous band or track encircling the heavens irregularly, and known to consist of innumerable stars perceptible only by means of the telescope.
10. A little of the fool.
11. Enterpriser. One who attempts an undertaking; an adventurer.
12. Remover. An agitator.
13. Decline. To avoid; to turn aside.
14. You carry Caesar and his fortune. Plutarch. Life of Caesar.
15. 'Fortunate' and not of 'Great.' Plutarch. Life of Sulla.
16. Timotheus, died 354 B.C., Athenian naval commander.
17. Slide. Fluency.
18. Timoleon, died 337 or 336 B.C., a celebrated Corinthian general and statesman.
19. Epaminondas, 418(?)–362 B.C., Theban general and statesman, victorious but mortally wounded in the battle of Mantinea, 362 B.C.