Of Studies

-Francis Bacon
experience / /
except / /
Ik'spIJriJns
Ik'sept
confute / /
diligence / /
kJn'fju;t
'dIlIdZJns
confer / / kJn'f3;
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
manywords here that have changedtheir meanings inthe moderntimes.
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 themtoo 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 seemto know, that he doth
not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep;
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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 himstudy 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
everydefect of the mind, mayhave a special receipt.
privateness - not being in public; seclusion; in the modern context it means:
secludedfromthe sight, presence, or intrusionof 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.
toomuchat large - toovague
craftymen - cunningpeople
without - outside
curiously - here it means extremely carefully -- it is an archaic meaning. In
modernusage it means, eagerness tolearnmore.
flashy - tasteless
conference - conversation
stond - defect
impediment - hurdle; obstacle
rhetoric - the art or studyof usinglanguage effectivelyandpersuasively
abuent studia inmores- studies pass intoandinfluence manners
schoolmen - scholars in the universities of the Middle Ages; a person who is skilled
inacademic disputation.
bowling - It is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a ball
alonga flat surface inanattempt toknockdown objects calledpins.
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 theydo?'
beat over matters - attempt the same thingagainandagain
receipt: Here it means treatmentit is an old-fashioned meaning.
Today it means, A written acknowledgment that a specified article,
sumof money, or shipment of merchandise has beenreceived.
Glossary
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receipt / / rI'si;t rhetoric / / 'retJrIk
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Exercises
WordPower
I. Differentiate between the following pairs of words and use themin sentences of
yourown:
II. Use the followingwords as Nounandas Verbinsentences of yourown:
III. Use the followingwords as Nounandas adjectives insentences of yourown:
IV. Use the followingphrases insentences of yourown:
V. Choose the word fromthe alternatives provided which does not mean the same
as the mainword:
disease, decease
special, especial
deep, dip
moral, mural
except, accept
beat, beet
excess, access
cease, sieze
delight,
judge,
experience,
stone,
study,
breast,
head
common,
ready,
grave,
beat,
special
one by one,
give forth,
at large,
call away,
beat over,
call up,
bound in
a. pleasure
b. transport
c. enjoy
d. rapture
a. clever
b. erudite
c. receptive
1. delight
2. wise
d. aspire
a. discern
b. make out
c. recognize
d. clarify
1. Whichof the followingis not the proper use of studies?
a. delight
b. refinement
c. ornament
d. ability
2. Whichtypes of people condemnstudies?
a. learned
b. cunning
c. well-bred
d. careless
3. Whichof the followingis the proper use of studies?
a. challengingthe opinions of others
b. take the writtenword as a Gospel truth
c. finda point for talking
d. balancingconflictingopinions
4. Whichtypes of books canbe readthroughextract?
a. excellent books
b. books concerningculture
c. books concerningimportant arguments
d. less important books
5. Whichsort of books canmake a personwise?
a. books of poetry
b. books of moral philosophy
c. books of history
d. books of natural philosophy
6. Whoare Schoolmen?
a. teachers of a school
b. students of a school
c. administrators of a school
d. philosophers
7. Whichsort of exercise is suitable for the ailments of stomach?
3. distinguish
Comprehension
I. Choose the correct alternative fromthe givenoptions:
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a. walking
b. riding
c. cycling
d. bowling
1. What are the three chief uses of studies?
2. What is affectationconcerningbooks?
3. Whichtypes of people admire books?
4. Whichsorts of books canbe studiedthroughextracts made byothers?
5. What makes a manready?
6. What is the use of books of moral philosophy?
7. Whichsport is proper for curingthe diseases of lungs?
8. What should a person, whose mindwanders, readtocure himof this wandering?
9. Whyare Schoolmencalledhair splitters?
10. What sorts of people shouldstudythe Schoolmen?
1. Write about the rules Baconadvocates concerningthe rules for study.
2. Howcanstudies cure mental deficiencies?
3. Discuss the value of different types of studies?
4. What does Baconmeanby, Studies pass intoandinfluence manners?
Write a summaryof the essay, Of Studies inyour own words
To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is
affectation; tomake judgment whollybytheir rules is the humour of a scholar.
Marryinhaste: repent at leisure. Scottishproverb
Better tolight a candle thantocurse the darkness. Chinese proverb
II. Answerthe followingquestions inone sentence each:
III. Answerthe followingquestions inthree-foursentences each.
IV. Answerthe followingquestioninaparagraph.
V.
VI.
Searchtwo more examples of suchbalancedsentences fromthe essay.
Searchfromthe essay Of Studies twosuchaphoristic remarks.
This essay of Bacon is full of 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:
Bacon's essays have been called . 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 givenhere:
balanced
aphoristic
VII Here are given two statements. Locate the sentences in the essay, which mean
the same thing as these statements:
Conditional Sentences
A. First Conditional:
B. SecondConditional:
.
Grammar
a. It is mere laziness to spend too much time in studies. It is affectation to show off
learning. It is onlya scholar who is whollyguidedbybooklearning.
b. Readnot tocontradict, believe, nor findtalk; but toconsider.
Observe the followingsentences that occur inthe essayOf Studies:
2. If his wit be not apt todistinguishor finddifferences, let himstudythe Schoolmen.
3. If he be not apt tobeat over matters, let himstudythe lawyers' cases.
These are conditional sentences. Conditional sentences are used to express that the
action in the main clause (without ) can only take place if a certain condition (in the
clause with ) 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 twoparts
a. The Mainclause, and
b. The 'if' clause
There are three types of conditional sentences:
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 formof such sentences is
like this:
Simple Present will future
Or
Infinitive
Or
Modal+infinitive
For example
If Karanlearns well, he will pass the examination.
If Raina wakes up earlyshe cancatchthe morningtrain.
If you do not pass inEnglishwhat will youdo?
It is theoretically possible to fulfil a condition, which is given in the 'if' clause. The
formof such sentences is like this:
if
if
Real Conditions
If Clause Mainclause
Unreal Conditions (Present)
l
1. If a man's wit be wandering, let himstudythe mathematics.
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Unreal Conditions (Past)
Simple Past would +infinitive
Or
Could+infinitive
Or
Might +infinitive
For Example:
If Raina were not inthe town, Karanmight live ina hotel.
If Raina learnedwell, she couldpass the examination.
In such cases the condition given in the 'if' clause is impossible to be fulfilled. The form of
suchsentences is like this:
If Clause MainClause
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 hadknown about the Indianweather.
Raina would have passed the examinationif she hadstudiedwell.
In all conditional sentences we can begin the sentence either with the if-clause or with
the mainclause.
Complete the followingsentences, beingcareful tochoose the correct verbforms:
2. She will work overtime if . . .
3. She will take another Englishgrammar bookif . . .
4. She will move toa better cityif . . .
5. She will buy another computer if . . .
6. Raina would not get toher class if . . .
7. You would not pass the examinationif. . .
8. You cannot get the right replyfromthe criminal if . . .
9. You would not get anyletters if . . .
10. Raina would not make good friends if . . .
11. Raina will invite Karanif . . .
12. Raina will fail inEnglishif . . .
13. Raina will go backtoAmerica if . . .
14. She would lose wait if . . .
15. She would needmore moneythanshe gets if . . .
If Clause Mainclause
C. ThirdConditional:
Note:
1. Raina will stayinLondonfor three years if . . .
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SpeakingActivity
WritingActivity
Thinkit over
Readthe followingpassage andanswerthe questions that follow:
Things to do
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 inthe class.
Our ancestors had great difficulty in procuring books. Ours is nowwhat 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 selectionof books we read.
1. What was difficult for our ancestors todo?
2. What difficultyconcerningbooks is felt byus today?
3. On what the happiness of life depends?
4. Give a suitable title to the above passage.
5. Give synonyms of the followingwords:
procure
sarcastic
ambiguous
6. Give antonyms of the followingwords:
difficulty
useless
evil
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 readingbooks. Try tomake a list of essays that deal withthe art of readingbooks.
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 readsome other essays onthis subject.
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