Essays of Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Of Ambition
AMBITION is like choler; which is an humor that maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity,
and stirring, if it be not stopped. But if it be stopped, and cannot have his way, it becometh adust,
and thereby malign and venomous. So ambitious men, if they find the way open for their rising,
and still get forward, they are rather busy than dangerous; but if they be checked in their desires,
they become secretly discontent, and look upon men and matters with an evil eye, and are best
pleased, when things go backward; which is the worst property in a servant of a prince, or state.
Therefore it is good for princes, if they use ambitious men, to handle it, so as they be still
progressive and not retrograde; which, because it cannot be without inconvenience, it is good not
to use such natures at all. For if they rise not with their service, they will take order, to make
their service fall with them. But since we have said, it were good not to use men of ambitious
natures, except it be upon necessity, it is fit we speak, in what cases they are of necessity. Good
commanders in the wars must be taken, be they never so ambitious; for the use of their service,
dispenseth with the rest; and to take a soldier without ambition, is to pull off his spurs. There is
also great use of ambitious men, in being screens to princes in matters of danger and envy; for no
man will take that part, except he be like a seeled dove, that mounts and mounts, because he
cannot see about him. There is use also of ambitious men, in pulling down the greatness of any
subject that overtops; as Tiberius used Marco, in the pulling down of Sejanus. Since, therefore,
they must be used in such cases, there resteth to speak, how they are to be bridled, that they may
be less dangerous. There is less danger of them, if they be of mean birth, than if they be noble;
and if they be rather harsh of nature, than gracious and popular: and if they be rather new raised,
than grown cunning, and fortified, in their greatness. It is counted by some, a weakness in
princes, to have favorites; but it is, of all others, the best remedy against ambitious great-ones.
For when the way of pleasuring, and displeasuring, lieth by the favorite, it is impossible any
other should be overgreat. Another means to curb them, is to balance them by others, as proud as
they. But then there must be some middle counsellors, to keep things steady; for without that
ballast, the ship will roll too much. At the least, a prince may animate and inure some meaner
persons, to be as it were scourges, to ambitions men. As for the having of them obnoxious to
ruin; if they be of fearful natures, it may do well; but if they be stout and daring, it may
precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous. As for the pulling of them down, if the affairs
require it, and that it may not be done with safety suddenly, the only way is the interchange,
continually, of favors and disgraces; whereby they may not know what to expect, and be, as it
were, in a wood. Of ambitions, it is less harmful, the ambition to prevail in great things, than that
other, to appear in every thing; for that breeds confusion, and mars business. But yet it is less
danger, to have an ambitious man stirring in business, than great in dependences. He that seeketh
to be eminent amongst able men, hath a great task; but that is ever good for the public. But he,
that plots to be the only figure amongst ciphers, is the decay of a whole age. Honor hath three
things in it: the vantage ground to do good; the approach to kings and principal persons; and the
raising of a man’s own fortunes. He that hath the best of these intentions, when he aspireth, is an
honest man; and that prince, that can discern of these intentions in another that aspireth, is a wise
prince. Generally, let princes and states choose such ministers, as are more sensible of duty than
of using; and such as love business rather upon conscience, than upon bravery, and let them
discern a busy nature, from a willing mind.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of Revenge
REVENGE is a kind of wild justice; which the more man’ s nature runs to, the more ought law to
weed it out. For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong,
putteth the law out of office. Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but
in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon. And Solomon, I am sure,
saith, It is the glory of a man, to pass by an offence. That which is past is gone, and irrevocable;
and wise men have enough to do, with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle
with themselves, that labor in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong, for the wrong’s sake;
but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honor, or the like. Therefore why should I
be angry with a man, for loving himself better than me? And if any man should do wrong,
merely out of ill-nature, why, yet it is but like the thorn or briar, which prick and scratch, because
they can do no other. The most tolerable sort of revenge, is for those wrongs which there is no
law to remedy; but then let a man take heed, the revenge be such as there is no law to punish;
else a man’s enemy is still before hand, and it is two for one. Some, when they take revenge, are
desirous, the party should know, whence it cometh. This is the more generous. For the delight
seemeth to be, not so much in doing the hurt, as in making the party repent. But base and crafty
cowards, are like the arrow that flieth in the dark. Cosmus, duke of Florence, had a desperate
saying against perfidious or neglecting friends, as if those wrongs were unpardonable; You shall
read (saith he) that we are commanded to forgive our enemies; but you never read, that we are
commanded to forgive our friends. But yet the spirit of Job was in a better tune: Shall we (saith
he) take good at God’s hands, and not be content to take evil also? And so of friends in a
proportion. This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge, keeps his own wounds green, which
otherwise would heal, and do well. Public revenges are for the most part fortunate; as that for the
death of Caesar; for the death of Pertinax; for the death of Henry the Third of France; and many
more. But in private revenges, it is not so. Nay rather, vindictive persons live the life of witches;
who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate.
Of Travel
TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience. He that
travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and
not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well; so that he
be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be
able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen, in the country where they go; what
acquaintances they are to seek; what exercises, or discipline, the place yieldeth. For else, young
men shall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange thing, that in sea voyages, where there
is nothing to be seen, but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein so
much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it; as if chance were fitter to be registered,
than observation. Let diaries, therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed
are: the courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of
justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and
monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities,
and towns, and so the heavens and harbors; antiquities and ruins; libraries; colleges, disputations,
and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near
great cities; armories; arsenals; magazines; exchanges; burses; warehouses; exercises of
horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better
sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude,
whatsoever is memorable, in the places where they go. After all which, the tutors, or servants,
ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital
executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet are they not to be
neglected. If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to
gather much, this you must do. First, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language
before he goeth. Then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was
likewise said. Let him carry with him also, some card or book, describing the country where he
travelleth; which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay
long, in one city or town; more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth
in one city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town, to another;
which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Let him sequester himself, from the company of his
countrymen, and diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation where he
travelleth. Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to
some person of quality, residing in the place whither he removeth; that he may use his favor, in
those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel, with much profit. As for
the acquaintance, which is to be sought in travel; that which is most of all profitable, is
acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors: for so in travelling in one
country, he shall suck the experience of many. Let him also see, and visit, eminent persons in all
kinds, which are of great name abroad; that he may be able to tell, how the life agreeth with the
fame. For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided. They are commonly for
mistresses, healths, place, and words. And let a man beware, how he keepeth company with
choleric and quarrelsome persons; for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a
traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries, where he hath travelled, altogether
behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters, with those of his acquaintance, which are
of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than his apparel or gesture; and
in his discourse, let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories; and let it
appear that he doth not change his country manners, for those of foreign parts; but only prick in
some flowers, of that he hath learned abroad, into the customs of his own country.