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Of Studies
-Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist
and essayist. He is best known for leading the scientific revolution with his
new 'observation and experimentation' theory which is the way science has
been conducted ever since. He is a famous essayist and is known as the father
of the English essay. His essays are full of common sense and epigrammatic
wit.
In the essay “Of Studies” Bacon tells us about the way books should be studied. Excess
indulgence in books is not good. Books, he says, should not be studied to find
argument but to weigh different arguments in support of some idea. Books are like
food: enough of it is good; too much of it is unpleasant. Books can be effective in
curing many types of mental illnesses. Since this essay was published in 1625 there are
many words here that have changed their meanings in the modern times.
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 marshalling of affairs, come best, from those
that are learned. To spend too much time in 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
proyning, 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 consider. Some books are to be
tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books
are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read
wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts
made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the
meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things.
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore,
if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a
present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth
not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep;
experience / Ik'spIJriJns /
except / Ik'sept /
confute / kJn'fju;t /
diligence / 'dIlIdZJns /
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confer / kJn'f3; /
moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond
or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body,
may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the
lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's
wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called
away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences,
let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters,
and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So
every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt.
Glossary
privateness
-
not being in public; seclusion; in the modern context it means:
“secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others.”
retiring
- retirement
plots
- plans
pronying
- its modern spelling is “pruning”. It means, “To cut off or remove dead
or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or
growth.”
too much at large - too vague
crafty men
- cunning people
without
- outside
curiously
- here it means “extremely carefully” -- it is an archaic meaning. In
modern usage it means, “eagerness to learn more.”
flashy
- tasteless
conference
- conversation
stond
- defect
impediment
- hurdle; obstacle
rhetoric
- the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively
abuent studia in mores- studies pass into and influence manners
schoolmen
- scholars in the universities of the Middle Ages; a person who is skilled
in academic disputation.
bowling
- It is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a ball
along a flat surface in an attempt to knock down objects called pins.
reins
- kidneys
cymini sectores - splitters of hair. The philosophers during the times of Bacon were called
'splitters of hair' because they discussed questions like, 'Why fire is hot
and water is wet; how plants and animals grow, why men act and think
as they do?'
beat over matters - attempt the same thing again and again
receipt: Here it means “treatment”—it is an old-fashioned meaning.
Today it means, “A written acknowledgment that a specified article,
sum of money, or shipment of merchandise has been received.”
receipt / rI'si;t /
rhetoric / 'retJrIk /
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Exercises
Word Power
I.
Differentiate between the following pairs of words and use them in sentences of
your own:
disease, decease
special, especial
deep, dip
moral, mural
except, accept
beat, beet
excess, access
cease, sieze
II.
Use the following words as Noun and as Verb in sentences of your own:
delight,
judge,
experience,
stone,
study,
breast,
head
III.
Use the following words as Noun and as adjectives in sentences of your own:
common,
ready,
grave,
beat,
special
IV.
Use the following phrases in sentences of your own:
one by one,
give forth,
at large,
call away,
beat over,
call up,
bound in
V.
Choose the word from the alternatives provided which does not mean the same
as the main word:
1.
delight
a.
pleasure
b.
transport
c.
enjoy
d.
rapture
2.
wise
a.
clever
b.
erudite
c.
receptive
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d.
3.
aspire
distinguish
a.
discern
b.
make out
c.
recognize
d.
clarify
Comprehension
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Choose the correct alternative from the given options:
Which of the following is not the proper use of studies?
a.
delight
b.
refinement
c.
ornament
d.
ability
Which types of people condemn studies?
a.
learned
b.
cunning
c.
well-bred
d.
careless
Which of the following is the proper use of studies?
a.
challenging the opinions of others
b.
take the written word as a Gospel truth
c.
find a point for talking
d.
balancing conflicting opinions
Which types of books can be read through extract?
a.
excellent books
b.
books concerning culture
c.
books concerning important arguments
d.
less important books
Which sort of books can make a person wise?
a.
books of poetry
b.
books of moral philosophy
c.
books of history
d.
books of natural philosophy
Who are Schoolmen?
a.
teachers of a school
b.
students of a school
c.
administrators of a school
d.
philosophers
Which sort of exercise is suitable for the ailments of stomach?
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a.
b.
c.
d.
walking
riding
cycling
bowling
II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Answer the following questions in one sentence each:
What are the three chief uses of studies?
What is affectation concerning books?
Which types of people admire books?
Which sorts of books can be studied through extracts made by others?
What makes a man ready?
What is the use of books of moral philosophy?
Which sport is proper for curing the diseases of lungs?
What should a person, whose mind wanders, read to cure him of this wandering?
Why are Schoolmen called “hair splitters?”
What sorts of people should study the Schoolmen?
III.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Answer the following questions in three-four sentences each.
Write about the rules Bacon advocates concerning the rules for study.
How can studies cure mental deficiencies?
Discuss the value of different types of studies?
What does Bacon mean by, “Studies pass into and influence manners”?
IV.
Answer the following question in a paragraph.
Write a summary of the essay, “Of Studies” in your own words
This essay of Bacon is full of balanced sentences. Balance means equal
distribution of weight. In the essays of Bacon we find two or more parts that are
grammatically equivalent or coordinate -- balanced against each other. Here is one
such sentence:
“To spend too much time in 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.”
V.
Search two more examples of such balanced sentences from the essay.
Bacon's essays have been called aphoristic. An aphorism is a short witty remark,
which contains a general truth or wise observation often in a clever way.
Sometimes aphorisms rhyme, sometimes they have repeated words or phrases, and
sometimes they have two parts that are of the same grammatical structure. Some
examples are given here:
“Marry in haste: repent at leisure.” Scottish proverb
“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Chinese proverb
VI.
Search from the essay “Of Studies” two such aphoristic remarks.
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VII.
a.
b.
Here are given two statements. Locate the sentences in the essay, which mean
the same thing as these statements:
It is mere laziness to spend too much time in studies. It is affectation to show off
learning. It is only a scholar who is wholly guided by book learning.
Read not to contradict, believe, nor find talk; but to consider.
Grammar
Conditional Sentences
Observe the following sentences that occur in the essay “Of Studies”:
1.
If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
2.
If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen.
3.
If he be not apt to beat over matters, let him study the lawyers' cases.
These are conditional sentences. Conditional sentences are used to express that the
action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the
clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences. Whenever
we say "if something, then something ....", we are using a conditional sentence. A
conditional sentence has at least two parts
a.
The Main clause, and
b.
The 'if' clause
There are three types of conditional sentences:
A.
First Conditional:
Real Conditions
When we talk about the future, we think about a particular condition or situation in
the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this
condition will happen. In such cases the conditional clause is in the present tense
while the result (or Main) clause is in the future tense. The form of such sentences is
like this:
If Clause
Main clause
Simple Present
will future
Or
Infinitive
Or
Modal+ infinitive
For example
If Karan learns well, he will pass the examination.
If Raina wakes up early she can catch the morning train.
If you do not pass in English what will you do?
B.
Second Conditional:
Unreal Conditions (Present)
It is theoretically possible to fulfill a condition, which is given in the 'if' clause. The
form of such sentences is like this:
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If Clause
Simple Past
Main clause
would + infinitive
Or
Could + infinitive
Or
Might +infinitive
For Example:
If Raina were not in the town, Karan might live in a hotel.
If Raina learned well, she could pass the examination.
C.
Third Conditional:
Unreal Conditions (Past)
In such cases the condition given in the 'if' clause is impossible to be fulfilled. The form of
such sentences is like this:
If Clause
Main Clause
Past Perfect
would +have + past participle
Or
Could +have + past participle
Or
Might +have + past participle
For example:
Raina would not have come here if she had known about the Indian weather.
Raina would have passed the examination if she had studied well.
Note: In all conditional sentences we can begin the sentence either with the if-clause or with
the main clause.
Complete the following sentences, being careful to choose the correct verb forms:
1.
Raina will stay in London for three years if . . .
2.
She will work overtime if . . .
3.
She will take another English grammar book if . . .
4.
She will move to a better city if . . .
5.
She will buy another computer if . . .
6.
Raina would not get to her class if . . .
7.
You would not pass the examination if. . .
8.
You cannot get the right reply from the criminal if . . .
9.
You would not get any letters if . . .
10.
Raina would not make good friends if . . .
11.
Raina will invite Karan if . . .
12.
Raina will fail in English if . . .
13.
Raina will go back toAmerica if . . .
14.
She would lose wait if . . .
15.
She would need more money than she gets if . . .
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SpeakingActivity
The present essay tells you much about the importance of books in life. Now, on the basis of
your own experiences discuss your own views about the importance of books and how you
should study these. Express your views in at least five sentences about any aspect of reading
books in the class.
WritingActivity
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Our ancestors had great difficulty in procuring books. Ours is now what to select. We
must be careful, what we read. There are, indeed, books and books and there are
books, which, as Lamb said, “are not books at all.” There are many books; to which
one may apply, in the sarcastic sense, the ambiguous remark, which Lord
Beaconsfield, made to an unfortunate author, “I will lose no time in reading your
book.” Others are more than useless, and poison the mind with suggestions of evil.
Few people realize how much the happiness of life, and the formation of character,
depends on a wise selection of books we read.
1.
What was difficult for our ancestors to do?
2.
What difficulty concerning books is felt by us today?
3.
On what the happiness of life depends?
4.
Give a suitable title to the above passage.
5.
Give synonyms of the following words:
procure
sarcastic
ambiguous
6.
Give antonyms of the following words:
difficulty
useless
evil
Think it over
You have been reading and writing essays for a very long time. These can be written on any
topic, though the length is usually not very much. Many essayists have written essays about
the art of reading books. Try to make a list of essays that deal with the art of reading books.
Things to do
One such essay was written by Montaigne, which was translated from original French into
English by John Florio. The title of the Essay is “Of Books.” Try to read the essay of
Montaigne.Also read some other essays on this subject.
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