|
Essay XXVI: Of Seeming Wise
Essay XXVI: Of Seeming Wise
It hath been an opinion that the French are wiser than they seem, and the
Spaniards seem wiser than they are. But howsoever it be between nations,
certainly it is so between man and man. For as the Apostle ^1 saith of
godliness, Having a show of godliness, but denying the power thereof; so
certainly there are in point of wisdom and sufficiency, that do nothing or
little very solemnly: magno conatu nugas [with great effort, trifles]. It is
ridiculous thing and fit for a satire to persons of judgment, to see what
shifts these formalists have, and what prospectives ^2 to make superficies [a
surface] to seem body that hath depth, and bulk. Some are so close and
reserved, as they will not show their wares but by a dark light; and seem
always to keep back somewhat; and when they know within themselves they speak
of that they do not well know, would nevertheless seem to others to know of
that which they may not well speak. Some help themselves with countenance and
gesture, and are wise by signs; as Cicero saith of Piso, that when he answered
him, he fetched one of his brows up to his forehead, and bent the other down
to his chin; Respondes, altero ad frontem sublato, altero ad mentum depresso
supercilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere [You answer, with one eyebrow lifted
to the forehead and the other lowered to the chin, that cruelty does not
please you]. Some think to bear it ^3 by speaking a great word, and being
peremptory; and go on, and take by admittance that which they cannot make
good. ^4 Some, whatsoever is beyond their reach, will seem to despise or make
light of it as impertinent ^5 or curious; ^6 and so would have their ignorance
seem judgment. Some are never without a difference, and commonly by amusing
men with a subtility, blanch ^7 the matter; of whom A. Gellius saith, Hominem
delirum, qui verborum minutiis rerum frangit pondera [A foolish man, that with
verbal points and niceties breaks up the mass of matter]. Of which kind also,
Plato in his Protagoras bringeth in Prodius in scorn, and maketh him make a
speech that consisteth of distinctions from the beginning to the end.
Generally, such men in all deliberations find ease to be of the negative side,
and affect a credit to object and foretell difficulties; for when propositions
are denied, there is an end of them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a
new work; which false point of wisdom is the bane of business. To conclude,
there is no decaying merchant, or inward ^8 beggar, hath so many tricks to
uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have to maintain the
credit of their sufficiency. Seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion;
but let no man choose them for employment; for certainly you were better take
for business a man somewhat absurd ^9 than over-formal.
[Footnote 1: St. Paul.]
[Footnote 2: Stereoscopes.]
[Footnote 3: Carry it off.]
[Footnote 4: Assume what they can not prove.]
[Footnote 5: Irrelevant.]
[Footnote 6: Uselessly elaborate.]
[Footnote 7: Evade.]
[Footnote 8: Secretly bankrupt.]
[Footnote 9: Rough.]
|
