of Adam said
that amongst the beasts "he found not for himself any meet companion."
Civil society doth more content the nature of man than any private kind
of solitary living, because in society this good of mutual
participation is so much larger than otherwise. Herewith
notwithstanding we are not satisfied, but we covet {17} (if it might
be) to have a kind of society and fellowship even with all mankind.
Which thing Socrates intending to signify professed himself a citizen,
not of this or that commonwealth, but of the world. And an effect of
that very natural desire in us (a manifest token that we wish after a
sort an universal fellowship with all men) appeareth by the wonderful
delight men have, some to visit foreign countries, some to discover
nations not heard of in former ages, we all to know the affairs and
dealings of other people, yea to be in league of amity with them: and
this not only for traffic's sake, or to the end that when many are
confederated each may make other the more strong; but for such cause
also as moved the Queen of Saba to visit Solomon; and in a word,
because nature doth presume that how many men there are in the world,
so many gods as it were there are, or at leastwise such they should be
towards men.

(_Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity_.)

FRANCIS BACON 1561-1626

OF STUDIES

Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief
use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in
discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of
business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of
particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots, and
the marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To
spend too much time in {18} studies is sloth; to use them too much for
ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the
humour of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by
experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need
pruning by study: and studies themselves do give forth directions too
much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men
contemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them: for
they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and
above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute,
nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse,
but to weigh and consid