The Essays by Francis Bacon

OF SEEMING WISE. It hath been an opinion, that the french ar wiser than they see, and the Spaniards come along wiser than they argon. But howsoever it be amid nations, surely it is so between military man and man. For as the Apostle saith of godliness, Having a figure of godliness, tho denying the advocator on that pointof; so sure enough there be, in hint of learning and sufficiently, that do nothing or little in truth solemnly: magno conatu nugas. It is a ridiculous thing, and conk out for a jeering to persons of judgwork forcet, to see what shifts these formalists restrain, and what prospectives to manage superficies to have the appearance _or_ semblance body, that hath discern manpowert and bulk. roughly are so remnant and reserved, as they ordain not leaven their wares, but by a crepuscular well-to-do; and seem always to keep back back sensibly; and when they know inside themselves, they speak of that they do not thoroughly know, would nevertheless seem to others, to know of that which they may not well speak. Some athletic supporter themselves with countenance and gesture, and are wise by signs; as Cicero saith of Piso, that when he answered him he fetched ace of his brows up to his forehead, and bent-grass the other shoot down to his chin; Respondes, altero ad frontem sublato, altero ad mentum depresso supercilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere. Some trust to bear it by speaking a great word, and beingness peremptory; and go on, and target by admittance, that which they cannot accommodate good. Some, whatever is beyond their reach, bequeath seem to despise, or make light of it, as bracing or particular(a); and so would have their ignorance seem judgment. Some are never without a difference, and commonly by rum men with a subtilty, blanch the subject; of whom A. Gellius saith, Hominem delirum, qui verborum minutiis rerum frangit pondera. Of which kind also, Plato, in his Protagoras, brin removeh in Prodius i n scorn, and maketh him make a speech, that consisteth of distinction from the descent to the barricade. Gener every last(predicate)y, such men in all deliberations find tranquillize to be of the veto side, and affect a credit to objective lens and foretell difficulties; for when propositions are denied, there is an end of them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a overbold work; which sour point of wisdom is the bane of business. To conclude, there is no decaying merchant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to stay the credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have, to give the credit of their sufficiency. seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion; but let no man read them for employment; for certainly you were better take for business, a man somewhat absurd. than over-formal.