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106

BACON'S ESSAYS

abusing of others, and (as we now say) putting tricks upon them, than upon soundness of their own proceedings. But Salomon saith, Prudens advertit ad gressus suos: stultus divertit ad dolos.[1]


XXIII. Of Wisdom for a Man's Self.

An ant is a wise creature for itself, but it is a shrewd[2] thing in an orchard or garden. And certainly men that are great lovers of themselves waste[3] the public. Divide with reason between self-love and society; and be so true to thyself, as thou be not false to others;[4] specially to thy king and country. It is a poor centre of a man's actions, him-

  1. ↑ The prudent man looks to his steps: the fool turns aside to deceits. Proverbs xiv. 8. This is a translation of Bacon's Latin. The Authorized Version is: "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit." As Bacon remembered this saying of Solomon's, it seems to be made up from two verses of the Vulgate, loosely quoted:—Sapientia callidi est intelligere viam suam; et imprudentia stultorum errans. Proverbs xiv. 8, and astutus considerat gressus suos. Proverbs xiv. 15.
  2. ↑ Shrewd. Sly, mischievous, unkind.

    ⁠"Do my Lord of Canterbury
    A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever."

    Shakspere. King Henry VIII. v. 2.

    "For many are wise in their own ways that are weak for government or counsel; like ants, which is a wise creature for itself, but very hurtful for the garden." Advancement of Learning. II. xxiii. 10.
  3. ↑ Waste. To lay waste; to devastate.
  4. ↑

    ⁠"To thine own self be true;
    And it must follow, as the night the day,
    Thou canst not then be false to any man."

    Shakspere. Hamlet, i. 3.

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