The physical and metaphysical works of Lord Bacon : including the Advancement of learning and Novum organum / edited by Joseph Devey.

  • Francis Bacon
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physical and metaphysical works of Lord Bacon : including the Advancement of learning and Novum organum / edited by Joseph Devey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    89/608 (page 77)
    71 CHAP. I.] IN WHAT RESPECTS WORKS ARE POSSIBLE. private individual, it is my intention to make the circuit of knowledge, noticing what parts lie waste and uncultivated, and abandoned by the industry of man, with a view to engage, by a faithful mapping out of the deserted tracks, the energies of public and private persons in their improvement. My attention, however, is alone confined to the discovery, not to the correction of errors. For it is one thing to point out what land lies uncultivated, and another thing to improve imperfect husbandry. In completing this design, I am ignorant neither of the greatness of the work nor my own incapacity. My hope, however, is, that, if the extreme love of my subject carry me too far, I may at least obtain the excuse of affection. It is not granted to man to love and be wise : “ amare et sapere.” On such topics opinion is free, and that liberty of judgment which I exercise myself lies equally at the disposition of all. And I for my part shall be as glad to receive correction from other's as I am ready to point out defects myself. It is the common duty of humanity: “ nam qui erranti comiter mon- strat viam.”k I, indeed, foresee that many of the defects and omissions I shall point out will be much censured, some as being already completed, and others as too difficult to be effected. For the first objection I must refer to the details of my subject; with regard to the last, 1 take it for granted that those works are possible which may be accomplished by some person, though not by every one ; which may be done by many, though not by one ; which may be completed in the succession of ages, though not within the hour-glass of one man’s life ; and which may reached by public effort, though not by private endeavour. Nevertheless, if any man prefer the sentence of Solomon—“ Dicit piger, Leo est in via 1 to that of Virgil, “ possunt, quia posse videntur”m —I shall be content to have my labours received but as the better kind of wishes. For as it requires some knowledge to ask an apposite question, he also cannot be deemed foolish who entertains sensible desires. The justest division of human learning is that derived from the three different faculties of the soul, the seat of [earning : history being relative to the memory, poetry to the