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Essay XXII: Of Cunning
Essay XXII: Of Cunning
We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. And certainly there is
a great difference between a cunning man and a wise man; not only in point of
honesty, but in point of ability. There be that can pack the cards, and yet
cannot play well; so there are some that are good in canvasses and factions,
that are otherwise weak men. Again, it is one thing to understand persons, and
another thing to understand matters; for many are perfect in men`s humors,
that are not greatly capable of the real part of business; which is the
constitution of one that hath studied men more than books. Such men are
fitter for practice than for counsel; and they are good but in their own
alley: ^1 turn them to new men, and they have lost their aim; so as the old
rule to know a fool from a wise man, Mitte ambos nudos ad ignotos, et videbis
[Send them both naked to those they know not, and you will see], doth scarce
hold for them. And because these cunning men are like haberdashers of small
wares, it is not amiss to set forth their shop.
[Footnote 1: Bowling-alley.]
It is a point of cunning, to wait upon him with whom you speak, with your
eye; as the Jesuits give it in precept: for there be many wise men that have
secret hearts and transparent countenances. Yet this would be done with a
demure abasing of your eye sometimes, as the Jesuits also do use.
Another is, that when you have anything to obtain of present despatch,
you entertain and amuse the party with whom you deal with some other
discourse; that he be not too much awake to make objections. I knew a
counsellor and secretary, that never came to Queen Elizabeth of England with
bills to sign, but he would always first put her into some discourse of
estate, that she mought ^2 the less mind the bills.
[Footnote 2: Might.]
The like surprise may be made by moving things when the party is in
haste, and cannot stay to consider advisedly of that is moved.
If a man would cross a business that he doubts some other would
handsomely and effectually move, let him pretend to wish it well, and move it
himself in such sort as may foil it.
The breaking off in the midst of that one was about to say, as if he took
himself up, breeds a greater appetite in him with whom you confer, to know
more.
And because it works better when anything seemeth to be gotten from you
by question, than if you offer it of yourself, you may lay a bait for a
question, by showing another visage and countenance than you are wont; to the
end to give occasion for the party to ask what the matter is of the change? As
Nehemias did; And I had not before that time been sad before the king.
In things that are tender and unpleasing, it is good to break the ice by
some whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice to
come in as by chance, so that he may be asked the question upon the other`s
speech: as Narcissus did, relating to Claudius the marriage of Messalina and
Silius.
In things that a man would not be seen in himself, it is a point of
cunning to borrow the name of the world; as to say, The world says, or There
is a speech abroad.
I knew one that, when he wrote a letter, he would put that which was
most material in the postscript, as if it had been a by-matter.
I knew another that, when he came to have speech, he would pass over that
that he intended most; and go forth, and come back again, and speak of it as
of a thing that he had almost forgot.
Some procure themselves to be surprised at such times as it is like the
party that they work upon will suddenly come upon them; and to be found with
a letter in their hand, or doing somewhat which they are not accustomed; to
the end they may be apposed ^3 of those things which of themselves they are
desirous to utter.
[Footnote 3: Questioned.]
It is a point of cunning, to let fall those words in a man`s own name,
which he would have another man learn and use, and thereupon take advantage. I
knew two that were competitors for the secretary`s place in Queen Elizabeth`s
time, and yet kept good quarter ^4 between themselves; and would confer one
with another upon the business; and the one of them said, That to be a
secretary in the declination of a monarchy was a ticklish thing, and that he
did not affect ^5 it: the other straight caught up those words and discoursed
with divers of his friends, that he had no reason to desire to be secretary
in the declination of a monarchy, The first man took hold of it, and found
means it was told the Queen; who hearing of a declination of a monarchy, took
it so ill as she would never after hear of the other`s suit.
[Footnote 4: Relations.]
[Footnote 5: Desire.]
There is a cunning, which we in England call the turning of the cat ^6 in
the pan; which is, when that which a man says to another, he lays it as if
another had said it to him. And to say truth, it is not easy, when such a
matter passed between two, to make it appear from which of them it first moved
and began.
[Footnote 6: Cate or cake.]
It is a way that some men have, to glance and dart at others by
justifying themselves by negatives; as to say, This I do not; as Tigellinus
did towards Burrhus, Se non diversas spes, sed incolumitatem imperatoris
simpliciter spectare [That he had not several hopes to rest on, but looked
simply to the safety of the Emperor.]
Some have in readiness so many tales and stories, as there is nothing
they would insinuate, but they can wrap it into a tale; which serveth both to
keep themselves more in guard, and to make others carry it with more pleasure.
It is a good point of cunning for a man to shape the answer he would have
in his own words and propositions; for it makes the other party stick the
less.
It is strange how long some men will lie in wait to speak somewhat they
desire to say; and how far about they will fetch; and how many other matters
they will beat over, to come near it. It is a thing of great patience, but yet
of much use.
A sudden, bold, and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man,
and lay him open. Like to him that, having changed his name and walking in
Paul`s, ^7 another suddenly came behind him and called him by his true name,
whereat straightways he looked back.
[Footnote 7: St. Paul`s Cathedral, then a fashionable promenade.]
But these small wares and petty points of cunning are infinite; and it
were a good deed to make a list of them; for that nothing doth more hurt in a
state than that cunning men pass for wise.
But certainly some there are that know the resorts and falls ^8 of
business, that cannot sink into the main of it; like a house that hath
convenient stairs and entries, but never a fair room. Therefore you shall see
them find out pretty looses ^9 in the conclusion, but are no ways able to
examine or debate matters. And yet commonly they take advantage of their
inability, and would be thought wits of direction. ^10 Some build rather upon
the abusing of others, and (as we now say) putting tricks upon them, than upon
soundness of their own proceedings. But Solomon saith, Prudens advertit ad
gressus suos; stultus divertit ad dolos [The wise taketh heed to his steps;
the fool turneth aside to deceits.]
[Footnote 8: Entrances and exits.]
[Footnote 9: Shots.]
[Footnote 10: Clever at directing others.]
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