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Essay XI: Of Great Place
Essay XI: Of Great Place
Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or
state; servants of fame; and servants of business. So as they have no freedom;
neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times. It is a
strange desire, to seek power and to lose liberty: or to seek power over
others and to lose power over a man`s self. The rising unto place is
laborious; and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes base;
and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the
regress is either a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy
thing. Cum non sis qui fueris, non esse cur velis vivere [When a man feels
that he is no longer what he was, he has no reason to live longer]. Nay,
retire men cannot when they would, neither will they when it were reason; but
are impatient of privateness, even in age and sickness, which require the
shadow; like old townsmen, that will be still sitting at their street door,
though thereby they offer age to scorn. Certainly great persons had need to
borrow other men`s opinions, to think themselves happy; for if they judge by
their own feeling, they cannot find it; but if they think with themselves what
other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then
they are happy as it were by report; when perhaps they find the contrary
within. For they are the first that find their own griefs, though they be the
last that find their own faults. Certainly men in great fortunes are strangers
to themselves, and while they are in the puzzle of business they have no time
to tend their health either of body or mind. Illi mors gravis incubat, qui
notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi [It is a sad fate for a man to die
too well known to everybody else, and still unknown to himself]. In place
there is license to do good and evil; whereof the latter is a curse: for in
evil the best condition is not to will; the second, not to can. But power to
do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring. For good thoughts (though God
accept them) yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they
be put in act; and that cannot be without power and place, as the vantage and
commanding ground. Merit and good works is the end of man`s motion; and
conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man`s rest. For if a man can
be partaker of God`s theatre, ^1 he shall likewise be partaker of God`s rest.
Et conversus Deus, ut aspiceret opera quae fecerunt manus suae, vidit quod
omnia essent bona nimis [And God turned to look upon the works which his hands
had made, and saw that all were very good]; and then the sabbath. In the
discharge of thy place set before thee the best examples; for imitation is a
globe ^2 of precepts. And after a time set before thee thine own example; and
examine thyself strictly whether thou didst not best at first. Neglect not
also the examples of those that have carried themselves ill in the same place;
not to set off thyself by taxing ^3 their memory, but to direct thyself what
to avoid. Reform therefore, without bravery ^4 or scandal of former times and
persons; but yet set it down to thyself as well to create good precedents as
to follow them. Reduce things to the first institution, and observe wherein
and how they have degenerate; but yet ask counsel of both times; of the
ancient time, what is best; and of the latter time, what is fittest. Seek to
make thy course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect;
but be not too positive and peremptory; and express thyself well when thou
digressest from thy rule. Preserve the right of thy place; but stir not
questions of jurisdiction; and rather assume thy right in silence and de facto
[from the fact], than voice it with claims and challenges. Preserve likewise
the rights of inferior places; and think it more honor to direct in chief than
to be busy in all. Embrace and invite helps and advices touching the execution
of thy place; and do not drive away such as bring thee information, as
meddlers; but accept of them in good part. The vices of authority are chiefly
four: delays, corruption, roughness, and facility. ^5 For delays: give easy
access; keep times appointed; go through with that which is in hand, and
interlace not business but of necessity. For corruption: do not only bind
thine own hands or thy servants` hands from taking, but bind the hands of
suitors also from offering. For integrity used doth the one; but integrity
professed, and with a manifest detestation of bribery, doth the other. And
avoid not only the fault, but the suspicion. Whosoever is found variable, and
changeth manifestly without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption.
Therefore always when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it
plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change;
and do not think to steal ^6 it. A servant or a favorite, if he be inward, and
no other apparent cause of esteem, is commonly thought but a by-way to close
^7 corruption. For roughness: it is a needless cause of discontent: severity
breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth hate. Even reproofs from authority ought
to be grave, and not taunting. As for facility: ^5 it is worse than bribery.
For bribes come but now and then; but if importunity or idle respects ^8 lead
a man, he shall never be without. As Solomon saith, To respect persons is not
good; for such a man will transgress for a piece of bread. It is most true
that was anciently spoken, A place showeth the man. And it showeth some to the
better, and some to the worse. Omnium consensu capax imperii, nisi imperasset
[A man whom every body would have thought fit for empire if he had not been
emperor], saith Tacitus of Galba; but of Vespasian he saith, Solus
imperantium, Vespasianus mutatus in melius [He was the only emperor whom the
possession of power changed for the better]; though the one was meant of
sufficiency, the other of manners and affection. It is an assured sign of a
worthy and generous spirit, whom honor amends. For honor is, or should be, the
place of virtue; and as in nature things move violently to their place and
calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled
and calm. All rising to great plaee is by a winding stair; and if there be
factions, it is good to side a man`s self whilst he is in the rising, and to
balance himself when he is placed. Use the memory of thy predecessor fairly
and tenderly; for if thou dost not, it is a debt will sure be paid when thou
art gone. If thou have colleagues, respect them, and rather call them when
they look not for it, than exclude them when they have reason to look to be
called. Be not too sensible or too remembering of thy place in conversation
and private answers to suitors; but let it rather be said, When he sits in
place he is another man.
[Footnote 1: What God saw.]
[Footnote 2: Complete body.]
[Footnote 3: Censuring.]
[Footnote 4: Boastfulness.]
[Footnote 5: Being easily led.]
[Footnote 6: Do secretly.]
[Footnote 7: Secret.]
[Footnote 8: Considerations.]
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