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concerned how to expose and set out our own commodities； than how to
increase our stock by acquiring new。 Silence； therefore； and modesty are
very advantageous qualities in conversation。 One should； therefore；
train up this boy to be sparing and an husband of his knowledge when he
has acquired it； and to forbear taking exceptions at or reproving every
idle saying or ridiculous story that is said or told in his presence； for
it is a very unbecoming rudeness to carp at everything that is not
agreeable to our own palate。 Let him be satisfied with correcting
himself； and not seem to condemn everything in another he would not do
himself； nor dispute it as against common customs。
〃Licet sapere sine pompa； sine invidia。〃
＇〃Let us be wise without ostentation； without envy。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 103。
Let him avoid these vain and uncivil images of authority； this childish
ambition of coveting to appear better bred and more accomplished； than he
really will； by such carriage； discover himself to be。 And； as if
opportunities of interrupting and reprehending were not to be omitted； to
desire thence to derive the reputation of something more than ordinary。
For as it becomes none but great poets to make use of the poetical
licence； so it is intolerable for any but men of great and illustrious
souls to assume privilege above the authority of custom：
〃Si quid Socrates ant Aristippus contra morem et consuetudinem
fecerunt； idem sibi ne arbitretur licere： magnis enim illi et
divinis bonis hanc licentiam assequebantur。〃
＇〃If Socrates and Aristippus have committed any act against manners
and custom； let him not think that he is allowed to do the same； for
it was by great and divine benefits that they obtained this
privilege。〃Cicero； De 0ffic。； i。 41。＇
Let him be instructed not to engage in discourse or dispute but with a
champion worthy of him； and； even there； not to make use of all the
little subtleties that may seem pat for his purpose； but only such
arguments as may best serve him。 Let him be taught to be curious in the
election and choice of his reasons； to abominate impertinence； and
consequently； to affect brevity； but； above all； let him be lessoned to
acquiesce and submit to truth so soon as ever he shall discover it；
whether in his opponent's argument； or upon better consideration of his
own； for he shall never be preferred to the chair for a mere clatter of
words and syllogisms； and is no further engaged to any argument whatever；
than as he shall in his own judgment approve it： nor yet is arguing a
trade； where the liberty of recantation and getting off upon better
thoughts； are to be sold for ready money：
〃Neque； ut omnia； qux praescripta et imperata sint；
defendat； necessitate ulla cogitur。〃
＇〃Neither is their any necessity upon him； that he should defend
all things that are prescribed and enjoined him。〃
Cicero； Acad。； ii。 3。＇
If his governor be of my humour； he will form his will to be a very good
and loyal subject to his prince； very affectionate to his person； and
very stout in his quarrel； but withal he will cool in him the desire of
having any other tie to his service than public duty。 Besides several
other inconveniences that are inconsistent with the liberty every honest
man ought to have； a man's judgment； being bribed and prepossessed by
these particular obligations； is either blinded and less free to exercise
its function； or is blemished with ingratitude and indiscretion。 A man
that is purely a courtier； can neither have power nor will to speak or
think otherwise than favourably and well of a master； who； amongst so
many millions of other subjects； has picked out him with his own hand to
nourish and advance； this favour； and the profit flowing from it； must
needs； and not without some show of reason； corrupt his freedom and
dazzle him； and we commonly see these people speak in another kind of
phrase than is ordinarily spoken by others of the same nation； though
what they say in that courtly language is not much to be believed。
Let his conscience and virtue be eminently manifest in his speaking； and
have only reason for their guide。 Make him understand； that to
acknowledge the error he shall discover in his own argument； though only
found out by himself； is an effect of judgment and sincerity； which are
the principal things he is to seek after； that obstinacy and contention
are common qualities； most appearing in mean souls； that to revise and
correct himself； to forsake an unjust argument in the height and heat of
dispute； are rare； great； and philosophical qualities。
Let him be advised； being in company； to have his eye and ear in every
corner； for I find that the places of greatest honour are commonly seized
upon by men that have least in them； and that the greatest fortunes are
seldom accompanied with the ablest parts。 I have been present when；
whilst they at the upper end of the chamber have been only commenting the
beauty of the arras； or the flavour of the wine； many things that have
been very finely said at the lower end of the table have been lost and
thrown away。 Let him examine every man's talent； a peasant； a
bricklayer； a passenger： one may learn something from every one of these
in their several capacities； and something will be picked out of their
discourse whereof some use may be made at one time or another； nay； even
the folly and impertinence of others will contribute to his instruction。
By observing the graces and manners of all he sees； he will create to
himself an emulation of the good； and a contempt of the bad。
Let an honest curiosity be suggested to his fancy of being inquisitive
after everything； whatever there is singular and rare near the place
where he is； let him go and see it； a fine house； a noble fountain； an
eminent man； the place where a battle has been anciently fought； the
passages of Caesar and Charlemagne：
〃Qux tellus sit lenta gelu； quae putris ab aestu；
Ventus in Italiam quis bene vela ferat。〃
＇〃What country is bound in frost； what land is friable with heat；
what wind serves fairest for Italy。〃Propertius； iv。 3； 39。＇
Let him inquire into the manners； revenues； and alliances of princes；
things in themselves very pleasant to learn； and very useful to know。
In this conversing with men； I mean also； and principally； those who only
live in the records of history； he shall； by reading those books；
converse with the great and heroic souls of the best ages。 'Tis an idle
and vain study to those who make it so by doing it after a negligent
manner； but to those who do it with care and observation； 'tis a study of
inestimable fruit and value； and the only study； as Plato reports； that
the Lacedaemonians reserved to themselves。 What profit shall he not reap
as to the business of men； by reading the Lives of Plutarch？ But；
withal； let my governor remember to what end his instructions are
principally directed； and that he do not so much imprint in his pupil's
memory the date of the ruin of Carthage； as the manners of Hannibal and
Scipio； nor so much where Marcellus died； as why it was unworthy of his
duty that he died there。 Let him not teach him so much the narrative
parts of history as to judge them； the reading of them； in my opinion；
is a thing that of all others we apply ourselves unto with the most
differing measure。 I have read a hundred things in Livy that another has
not； or not taken notice of at least； and Plutarch has read a hundred
more there than ever I could find； or than； peradventure； that author
ever wrote； to some it is merely a grammar study； to others the very
anatomy of philosophy； by which the most abstruse parts of our human
nature penetrate。 There are in Plutarch many long discourses very worthy
to be carefully read and observed； for he is； in my opinion； of all
others the greatest master in that kind of writing； but there are a
thousand others which he has only touched and glanced upon； where he only
points with his finger to direct us which way we may go if we will； and
contents himself sometimes with giving only one brisk hit in the nicest
article of the question； whence we are to grope out the rest。 As； for
example； where he says'＇In the Essay on False Shame。＇ that the
inhabitants of Asia came to be vassals to one only； for not having been
able to pronounce one syllable； which is No。 Which saying of his gave
perhaps matter and occasion to La Boetie to write his 〃Voluntary
Servitude。〃 Only to see him pick out a light action in a man's life； or
a mere word that does not seem to amount even to that； is itself a whole
discourse。 'Tis to our prejudice that men of understanding should so
immoderately affect brevity； no doubt their reputation is the better by
it； but in the meantime we are the worse。 Plutarch had rather we should
applaud his judgment than commend his knowledge； and had rather leave us
with an appetite to read more； than glutted with that we have already
read。 He knew very well； that a man may say too much even upon the best
subjects； and that Alexandridas