Of Studies
I. A brief summary: Of Studies is the most
popular of Bacon's 58 essays. It analyzes
what studies chiefly serve for, the different
ways adopted by different people to pursue
studies, and how studies exert influence
over human character.
Forceful and
persuasive, compact and precise, Of Studies
reveals to us Bacon's mature attitude
towards learning.
II Theme: To discuss rather analytically the
use and abuse of studies, the proper and
improper ways to pursue one’s studies,
and also the effect of the different kinds
of studies upon character.
III. Structure
1. Functions of reading (study). From the
beginning to line 16 on page 139 “…won
by observation)
2.Ways of reading (study) From “read
not to contradict…” to “ …flashy
things.” (line 3 from bottom)
3.The effect of reading upon human
character: From “Reading maketh a
full man,…” to the end.
III. Style
1. A new genre: essay. An essay is a piece of
prose writing, usually short, that deals
with a subject in a limited way and
expresses a particular point of view. An
essay is never a comprehensive treatment
of a subject ( the word comes from French
word, essai, meaning “ attempt” or “try”).
An essay many be serious or humorous,
tight organized or rambling, retrained or
emotional.
The two general classifications of essay are
the informal essay (also called the familiar
or personal essay) and the formal essay. An
informal essay is usually brief and is
written as if the writer is talking informally
to the reader about some topic, using a
conversational style and a personal or
humorous tone. In an informal essay, the
writer might digress from the topic at hand,
or express some amusing, startling, or
absurd opinions. In general, an informal
essay reveals as much about the
personality of its author as it does about
its subject. By contrast, a formal essay is
tightly organized, dignified in style, and
serious in tone. Francis Bacon’s “Of
Studies” is an example of a formal essay.
II. Structure/organization is compact;
expressions are brief and concise; diction
is simple but powerful; arguments are
clear and persuasive and the tone is
sincere and serious.
III. As the intention of the essay is to give
some practical advise about how a person
can do best in his life, this genre or literary
form can best serve or reflect the content.
See the humanist point of view here which is
contrast to the Middle Ages idea that one
was either practical or learned; Bacon says
not only that one can be both, but that each
helps the other.
IV Parallelism and symmetric(对称结构)
sentences frequently used. “..for.., for…,
for…,” “for ornament is…., for ability is….”
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and1
for ability. Their chief use for delight is in
privateness and retiring(l ); for ornament, is
in discourse; and for ability, is in the
judgment and
dispositionwhen
of business.
In discourse–
one is For
expert(2) men
can execute,
and perhaps
engaged
in conversation.
judge
of particulars,
one disposition
by one; but of
the
In the
judgement and
general
counsels
(3),
and
the
plots
and
business–
when
one
forms
a
judgement
Judge..one:Form opinions of specific and
marshaling
of
affairs
(4),
come
best
from
makes
definite
arragements
about
the
matters separately.
those
that of
arethe
learned
affairs
world.(5). 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
humor(7) of a scholar. They perfect nature,
and are perfected by experience(8); for
natural abilities are like natural plants, that
need pruning(9) by study; and studies
themselves do give forth directions too
much at large(10), except they be bounded
in by experience(11). Crafty men(12)
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
But
that…won
by
observation:
but
take for granted, nor to find talk and
that
(to
make
good
use
of
studies)
is
a
discourse, but to weigh and consider. Some
wisdom
that
lies
beyond
and
above
books are to be tasted, others to be
the
realm
of
studies,
attainable
only
swallowed, and some few to be chewed and
through
a
keen
observation
of
things.
digested; that is, some books are to be read
only in parts; others to be read, but not
2
curiously(13); and some few to be read
wholly, and with diligence and attention. 3
Some books also may be read by deputy(14)
and extracts made of them by others, but
that would(15) be only in the less important
arguments and the meaner sort of books;
Aready
full
man–
wideanswer
else
distilled（蒸馏；提取…的精华）
A
man–a aman
manwith
whoa can
knowledge
things
books
are
likeofcommon
distilled
(16),
things
readily
and
freely./
exactwaters
man—a
flashy
things(17).
maketh
a full
man who
speaks //Reading
and write with
accuracy.
man, conference( consultation, conversation)
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 (converse,
speak)little,
he
had
need
have
a
present
If a man write little,… memory—
wit(born
gift);
and
if
he
read
little,
he
had
”write” = take note; “ had need
need
have
more
cunning,
to
seem
to
know
have”= would need to have
that(18) he doth not. Histories make men
wise; poets, witty(19); the mathematics,
subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral,
grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.
Abeunt studia in mores. (20) Nay, there is
no stond(21) 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(22), 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(23), for they are Cumini
sectores. If'he be not apt to beat over
matters(24) and to call up one thing to
prove and illustrate another, let him study
the lawyer's cases. So every defect of the
mind may have a special receipt(25).
Notes: (1) privateness and retiring: private
life and retirement or when one is alone and
away
from
company.
(2)
expert:
experienced (rather than learned) or men
with much experience. (3)general counsels–
the giving of advice on general topics. (4)
the plots and marshalling of affairs– the
planning and the directing of affairs. (5)
those are that learned– learned men,
scholars. (6) sloth– lazy (coming from a
lazy animal树懒
(7) humor: mannerism, implying absurd error.
(8) they … by experience– They (studies)
improve a person’s nature abilities and are
themselves made more complete by experience.
(9) pruning: originally proyning– old spelling
–meaning: trimming, or cutting off the
superfluous and burdensome parts. (10) too
much large– too general or impractical. (11)
bounded in by experience– restricted by
experience. (12) crafty men—men who have
some special skill ( crafty”= skillful, ingenious,
having some special skill).
(13) curiously: with thoroughness and care. (14)
read by deputy—read with the assistance of
others./ extract– passages taken from books(15)
would: should. But to read by deputy and to
have extracts made of books by other persons
should be done only in the case of books with
less important subject-matter and of little value
(“argument”= the content or subject matter of
books).(16) distilled books– books from which
the better parts have been extracted; distilled
waters: infusions of herbs,etc., used as home
remedies. (17) flat and tasteless things.
(18) that: that which. (19) witty:
imaginative,inventive. (20) Abeunt studia
in mores (Latin) “ Studirs culminate in
manners” (Ovid, Horides), or studies go
into forming one’s character. (21)“stond”:
hindrance, block, drawback or difficulty.
(22) reins– gall bladder and (23 ) the
schoolmen: medieval theologians. 24) beat
over matters: make thorough examinations
of things. 25) receipt: cure, prescription.