Of Great Place
by
Francis Bacon
(Essay)
Men in great place are thrice servants;
servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business;
so as they have no freedom, neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor
in their times. It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty; or to
seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self. The rising unto
place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes
base, and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and
the regress is either a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy
thing: "Cum non sis qui fueris, non esse cur velis vivere." Nay,
retire men cannot when they would, neither will they when it were reason; but
are impatient of privateness even in age and sickness, which require the
shadow: like old townsmen, that will be still sitting at their street door,
though thereby they offer age to scorn. Certainly great persons had need to
borrow other men's opinions to think themselves happy; for if they judge by
their own feeling, they cannot find it: but if they think with themselves what
other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then
they are happy as it were by report, when, perhaps, they find the contrary
within; for they are the first that find their own griefs, though they be the
last that find their own faults. Certainly men in great fortunes are strangers
to themselves, and while they are in the puzzle of business they have no time
to tend their health either of body or mind: "Illi mors gravis incubat,
qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi." In place there is license
to do good and evil; whereof the latter is a curse: for in evil the best
condition is not to will; the second not to can. But power to do good is the
true and lawful end of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them,)
yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in act;
and that cannot be without power and place, as the vantage and commanding
ground. Merit and good works is the end of man's motion; and conscience of the
same is the accomplishment of man's rest; for if a man can be partaker of God's
theatre, he shall likewise be partaker of God's rest: "Et conversus Deus,
ut aspiceret opera, quaæ fecerunt manus suæ, vidit quod omnia essent bona
nimis;" and then the sabbath. In the discharge of the place set before
thee the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precepts; and after a time
set before thine own example; and examine thyself strictly whether thou didst
not best at first. Neglect not also the examples of those that have carried
themselves ill in the same place; not to set off thyself by taxing their
memory, but to direct thyself what to avoid. Reform, therefore, without bravery
or scandal of former times and persons; but yet set it down to thyself, as well
to create good precedents as to follow them. Reduce things to the first
institution, and observe wherein and how they have degenerated; but yet ask
counsel of both times; of the ancienter time what is best; and of the latter
time what is fittest. Seek to make thy course regular, that men may know be
forehand what they may expect; but be not too positive and peremptory; and
express thyself well when thou digressest from thy lure. Preserve the right of
thy place, but stir not questions of jurisdiction; and rather assume thy right
in silence, and "de facto," than voice it with claims and challenges.
Preserve likewise the rights of inferior places; and think it more honour to
direct in chief than to be busy in all. Embrace and invite helps and advices
touching the execution of thy place; and do not drive away such as bring thee
information as meddlers, but accept of them in good part. The vices of
authority are chiefly four; delays, corruption, roughness, and facility. For
delays give easy access: keep times appointed; go through with that which is in
hand, and interlace not business but of necessity. For corruption, do not only
bind thine own hands or thy servant's hands from taking, but bind the hands of suitors
also from offering; for integrity used doth the one; but integrity professed,
and with a manifest detestation of bribery, doth the other; and avoid not only
the fault, but the suspicion. Whosoever is found variable, and changeth
manifestly without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption; therefore,
always when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, and
declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change, and do not
think to steal it. A servant or a favourite, if he be inward, and no other
apparent cause of esteem, is commonly thought but a by-way to close corruption.
For roughness, it is a needless cause of discontent; severity breedeth fear,
but roughness breedeth hate. Even reproofs from authority ought to be grave,
and not taunting. As for facility, it is worse than bribery; for bribes come
but now and then; but if importunity or idle respects lead a man, he shall
never be without; as Solomon saith, "To respect persons is not good, for
such a man will transgress for a piece of bread." It is most true that was
anciently spoken, "A place showeth the man; and it showeth some to the
better and some to the worse;" "omnium consensu capax imperii, nisi
imperasset," saith Tacitus of Galba; but of Vespasian he saith, "solus
imperantium, Vespasianus mutatus in melius;" though the one was meant of
sufficiency, the other of manners and affection. It is an assured sign of a
worthy and generous spirit, whom honour amends; for honour is, or should be,
the place of virtue; and as in nature things move violently to their place and
calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled
and calm. All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be
factions, it is good to side a man's self whilst he is in the rising, and to
balance himself when he is placed. Use the memory of thy predecessor fairly and
tenderly; for if thou dost not, it is a debt will sure be paid when thou art
gone. If thou have colleagues, respect them; and rather call them when they
looked not for it, than exclude them when they have reason to look to be
called. Be not too sensible or too remembering of thy place in conversation and
private answers to suitors; but let it rather be said, "When he sits in
place he is another man."
){kind=link}
0 Comments