The Essays of Francis Bacon/XXVIII Of Expense

by Francis Bacon

XXVIII. Of Expense.

Riches are for spending, and spending for honour and good actions. Therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion; for voluntary undoing may be as well for a man's country as for the kingdom of heaven. But ordinary expense ought to be limited by a man's estate; and governed with such regard, as^[1] it be within his compass; and not subject to deceit and abuse of servants; and ordered to the best shew, that the bills may be less than the estimation abroad. Certainly, if a man will keep^[2] but of even hand, his ordinary expenses ought to be but to the half of his receipts; and if he think to wax rich, but to the third part. It is no baseness for the greatest to descend and look into their own estate. Some forbear it, not upon negligence alone, but doubting^[3] to bring themselves into melancholy, in respect^[4] they shall find it broken. But wounds cannot be cured without searching. He that cannot look into his own estate at all, had need both choose well those whom he employeth, and change them often; for new are more timorous and less subtle. He that can look into his estate but seldom, it behoveth him to turn all to certainties. A man had need, if he be plentiful in some kind of expense, to be as saving again in some other. As if he be plentiful in diet, to be saving in apparel; if he be plentiful in the hall, to be saving in the stable; and the like. For he that is plentiful in expenses of all kinds will hardly be preserved from decay. In clearing of a man's estate, he may as well hurt himself in being too sudden, as letting it run on too long. For hasty selling is commonly as disadvantageable^[5] as interest. Besides, he that clears at once will relapse; for finding himself out of straits, he will revert to his customs: but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his mind as upon his estate. Certainly, who^[6] hath a state to repair, may not despise small things; and commonly it is less dishonourable to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty gettings. A man ought warily to begin charges which once begun will continue: but in matters that return not he may be more magnificent.

1. As. That.
2. Keep but of even hand. Balance his expenses carefully.
3. Doubt. To fear, be afraid (that something uncertain will take or has taken place); to suspect.

   "Doubt thou the stars are fire;
   Doubt that the Sun doth move;
   Doubt truth to be a liar;
   But never doubt I love."
   

   Shakspere. Hamlet. ii. 2.

4. Respect. Relation, regard, case.
5. Disadvantageable. Disadvantageous.
6. Who. He who.

   "I dare do all that may become a man;
   Who dares do more, is none."
   

   Shakspere. Macbeth. i. 7.