lead a man, he shall never be without. As Salomon saith, To respect persons is not good; for such a man will transgress for a piece of bread.[1] It is most true that was anciently spoken, A place sheweth the man. And it sheweth some to the better, and some to the worse. Omnium consensu capax imperii, nisi imperasset,[2] saith Tacitus of Galba; but of Vespasian he saith, Solus imperantium, Vespasianus mutatus in melius:[3] though the one was meant of sufficiency,[4] 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.[5] 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
- ↑ Proverbs xxviii. 21. In the Advancement of Learning, II. xxiii. 6, Bacon quotes this proverb from the Vulgate, and goes right on with the distinction just made here, that facility is worse than bribery: "Qui cognoscit in judicio faciem, non bene facit; iste et pro buccella panis deseret veritatem. Here is noted, that a judge were better be a briber than a respecter of persons; for a corrupt judge offendeth not so lightly as a facile."
- ↑ If he had not governed, all would have thought him capable of governing. Cornelii Taciti Historiarum Liber I. Caput 49.
- ↑ Vespasian alone as emperor changed for the better. Et ambigua de Vespasiano fama solusque omnium ante se principum in melius mutatus est. Cornelii Taciti Historiarum Liber I. Caput 50. In the Advancement of Learning, II. xxii. 5, Bacon quotes Tacitus's criticism of Vespasian again, Solus Vespasianus mutatus in melius.
- ↑ Sufficiency. De arte imperatoria, in the Latin text, that is, ability.
- ↑ "So that it is no marvel though the soul so placed enjoy no rest, if that principle be true, that Motus rerum est rapidus extra locem, placidus in loco." Advancement of Learning, II. x. 2.
