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Essay XXXVIII: Of Nature In Men
Essay XXXVIII: Of Nature In Men
Nature is often hidden; sometimes overcome; seldom extinguished. Force
maketh nature more violent in the return; ^1 doctrine and discourse maketh
nature less importune; but custom only doth alter and subdue nature. He that
seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himself too great nor too
small tasks; for the first will make him dejected by often failings; and the
second will make him a small proceeder, though by often prevailings. And at
the first let him practise with helps, as swimmers do with bladders or
rushes; but after a time let him practise with disadvantages, as dancers do
with thick shoes. For it breeds great perfection, if the practice be harder
than the use. Where nature is mighty, and therefore the victory hard, the
degrees had need be, first to stay and arrest nature in time; like to him
that would say over the four and twenty letters when he was angry; then to go
less in quantity; as if one should, in forbearing wine, come from drinking
healths to a draught at a meal; and lastly, to discontinue altogether. But if
a man have the fortitude and resolution to enfranchise himself at once, that
is the best:
[Footnote 1: Reaction.]
Optimus ille animi vindex laedentia pectus
Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque semel.
[Wouldst thou be free? The chains that gall thy breast
With one strong effort burst, and be at rest.]
Neither is the ancient rule amiss, to bend nature as a wand to a contrary
extreme, whereby to set it right, understanding it, where the contrary extreme
is no vice. Let not a man force a habit upon himself with a perpetual
continuance, but with some intermission. For both the pause reinforceth the
new onset; and if a man that is not perfect be ever in practice, he shall as
well practise his errors as his abilities, and induce one habit of both; and
there is no means to help this but by seasonable intermissions. But let not a
man trust his victory over his nature too far; for nature will lay buried a
great time, and yet revive upon the occasion or temptation. Like as it was
with Aesop`s damsel, turned from a cat to a woman, who sat very demurely at
the board`s end, till a mouse ran before her. Therefore let a man either avoid
the occasion altogether; or put himself often to it, that he may be little
moved with it. A man`s nature is best perceived in privateness, for there is
no affectation; in passion, for that putteth a man out of his precepts; and in
a new case or experiment, for there custom leaveth him. They are happy men
whose natures sort with their vocations; otherwise they may say, multum incola
fuit anima mea [my soul hath been long a so-journer]; when they converse in
those things they do not affect. In studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon
himself, let him set hours for it; but whatsoever is agreeable to his nature,
let him take no care for any set times; for his thoughts will fly to it of
themselves; so as the spaces of other business or studies will suffice. A
man`s nature runs either to herbs or weeds; therefore let him season ably
water the one, and destroy the other.
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