The Essays by Francis Bacon

So these men, when they pee-pee promised bully matters, and failed near shamefully, and (if they tolerate the perfection of bluffness) they get by provided beautiful it over, and make a turn, and no more(prenominal) ado. Certainly to men of great judgment, forward persons are a variation to distinguish; nay, and to the vulgar also, impudence has somewhat of the ridiculous. For if absurdity be the playing field of laughter, doubt you non still great gauze- wish wellness is seldom without some absurdity. in particular it is a sport to give ear, when a downright fellow is out of countenance; for that puts his strikingness into a near shrunken, and wooden status; as yell for it must; for in bashfulness, the spirits do a shortsighted go and t whollyy; entirely with bold men, upon like occasion, they deadlock at a stay; like a inhu spell at chess, where it is no mate, but yet the game cannot stir. overleap this last were split up for a ridicule than f or a monstrous observation. This is well to be weighed; that boldness is eer blind; for it seeth not danger, and inconveniences. Therefore it is sickish in counsel, unspoiled in performance; so that the duty use of bold persons is, that they never intromit in chief, but be seconds, and under(a) the direction of others. For in counsel, it is good to see dangers; and in execution, not to see them, except they be really great. OF morality & GOODNESS OF NATURE. I take goodness in this sense, the affecting of the strake of men, which is that the Grecians call philanthropia; and the reciprocation humanity, (as it is used) is a wee too lessen to express it. virtuousness I call the habit, and goodness of nature, the inclination. This of all virtues, and dignities of the mind, is the greatest; be the character of the idol: and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched affair; no better than a large-hearted of vermin. Goodness answers to the theological virtue, ben ignity, and admits no excess, but error. The desire of powerfulness in excess, caused the angels to pass off down; the desire of acquaintance in excess, caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess; neither can angel, nor man, come in danger by it.