Of Studies

-Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist and essayist. He is best known for leading the scientific revolution with his new 'observation and experimentation' theory which is the way science has been conducted ever since. He is a famous essayist and is known as the father of the English essay. His essays are full of common sense and epigrammatic wit. In the essay Of Studies Bacon tells us about the way books should be studied. Excess indulgence in books is not good. Books, he says, should not be studied to find argument but to weigh different arguments in support of some idea. Books are like food: enough of it is good; too much of it is unpleasant. Books can be effective in curing many types of mental illnesses. Since this essay was published in 1625 there are many words here that have changed their meanings in the modern times. Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best, from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning, by study; and studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; experience / Ik'spIJriJns / except / Ik'sept / confute / kJn'fju;t / diligence / 'dIlIdZJns / 51 confer / kJn'f3; /

moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt.

Glossary
privateness not being in public; seclusion; in the modern context it means: secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others. retiring - retirement plots - plans pronying - its modern spelling is pruning. It means, To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. too much at large - too vague crafty men - cunning people without - outside curiously - here it means extremely carefully -- it is an archaic meaning. In modern usage it means, eagerness to learn more. flashy - tasteless conference - conversation stond - defect impediment - hurdle; obstacle rhetoric - the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively abuent studia in mores- studies pass into and influence manners schoolmen - scholars in the universities of the Middle Ages; a person who is skilled in academic disputation. bowling - It is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a ball along a flat surface in an attempt to knock down objects called pins. reins - kidneys cymini sectores - splitters of hair. The philosophers during the times of Bacon were called 'splitters of hair' because they discussed questions like, 'Why fire is hot and water is wet; how plants and animals grow, why men act and think as they do?' beat over matters - attempt the same thing again and again receipt: Here it means treatmentit is an old-fashioned meaning. Today it means, A written acknowledgment that a specified article, sum of money, or shipment of merchandise has been received. -

receipt / rI'si;t /

rhetoric / 'retJrIk / 52

Exercises
Word Power
I. Differentiate between the following pairs of words and use them in sentences of your own: disease, decease special, especial deep, dip moral, mural except, accept beat, beet excess, access cease, sieze Use the following words as Noun and as Verb in sentences of your own: delight, judge, experience, stone, study, breast, head Use the following words as Noun and as adjectives in sentences of your own: common, ready, grave, beat, special Use the following phrases in sentences of your own: one by one, give forth, at large, call away, beat over, call up, bound in Choose the word from the alternatives provided which does not mean the same as the main word: 1. delight a. pleasure b. transport c. enjoy d. rapture 2. wise a. clever b. erudite c. receptive 53

II.

III.

IV.

V.

d. 3.

aspire

distinguish a. discern b. make out c. recognize d. clarify

Comprehension
I. 1. Choose the correct alternative from the given options: Which of the following is not the proper use of studies? a. delight b. refinement c. ornament d. ability Which types of people condemn studies? a. learned b. cunning c. well-bred d. careless Which of the following is the proper use of studies? a. challenging the opinions of others b. take the written word as a Gospel truth c. find a point for talking d. balancing conflicting opinions Which types of books can be read through extract? a. excellent books b. books concerning culture c. books concerning important arguments d. less important books Which sort of books can make a person wise? a. books of poetry b. books of moral philosophy c. books of history d. books of natural philosophy Who are Schoolmen? a. teachers of a school b. students of a school c. administrators of a school d. philosophers Which sort of exercise is suitable for the ailments of stomach? 54

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

a. b. c. d. II. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. III. 1. 2. 3. 4. IV.

walking riding cycling bowling

Answer the following questions in one sentence each: What are the three chief uses of studies? What is affectation concerning books? Which types of people admire books? Which sorts of books can be studied through extracts made by others? What makes a man ready? What is the use of books of moral philosophy? Which sport is proper for curing the diseases of lungs? What should a person, whose mind wanders, read to cure him of this wandering? Why are Schoolmen called hair splitters? What sorts of people should study the Schoolmen? Answer the following questions in three-four sentences each. Write about the rules Bacon advocates concerning the rules for study. How can studies cure mental deficiencies? Discuss the value of different types of studies? What does Bacon mean by, Studies pass into and influence manners? Answer the following question in a paragraph. Write a summary of the essay, Of Studies in your own words This essay of Bacon is full of balanced sentences. Balance means equal distribution of weight. In the essays of Bacon we find two or more parts that are grammatically equivalent or coordinate -- balanced against each other. Here is one such sentence: To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humour of a scholar.

V.

Search two more examples of such balanced sentences from the essay. Bacon's essays have been called aphoristic. An aphorism is a short witty remark, which contains a general truth or wise observation often in a clever way. Sometimes aphorisms rhyme, sometimes they have repeated words or phrases, and sometimes they have two parts that are of the same grammatical structure. Some examples are given here: Marry in haste: repent at leisure. Scottish proverb Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Chinese proverb

VI.

Search from the essay Of Studies two such aphoristic remarks.

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VII. a. b.

Here are given two statements. Locate the sentences in the essay, which mean the same thing as these statements: It is mere laziness to spend too much time in studies. It is affectation to show off learning. It is only a scholar who is wholly guided by book learning. Read not to contradict, believe, nor find talk; but to consider.

Grammar
Conditional Sentences Observe the following sentences that occur in the essay Of Studies: 1. If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics. 2. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen. 3. If he be not apt to beat over matters, let him study the lawyers' cases. These are conditional sentences. Conditional sentences are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences. Whenever we say "if something, then something ....", we are using a conditional sentence. A conditional sentence has at least two parts a. The Main clause, and b. The 'if' clause There are three types of conditional sentences: A. First Conditional: Real Conditions When we talk about the future, we think about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. In such cases the conditional clause is in the present tense while the result (or Main) clause is in the future tense. The form of such sentences is like this: If Clause Main clause Simple Present will future Or Infinitive Or Modal+ infinitive For example If Karan learns well, he will pass the examination. If Raina wakes up early she can catch the morning train. If you do not pass in English what will you do? B. Second Conditional: Unreal Conditions (Present) It is theoretically possible to fulfill a condition, which is given in the 'if' clause. The form of such sentences is like this: 56

If Clause Simple Past

Main clause would + infinitive Or Could + infinitive Or Might +infinitive

For Example: If Raina were not in the town, Karan might live in a hotel. If Raina learned well, she could pass the examination. C. Third Conditional: Unreal Conditions (Past) In such cases the condition given in the 'if' clause is impossible to be fulfilled. The form of such sentences is like this: If Clause Main Clause Past Perfect would +have + past participle Or Could +have + past participle Or Might +have + past participle For example: Raina would not have come here if she had known about the Indian weather. Raina would have passed the examination if she had studied well. Note: In all conditional sentences we can begin the sentence either with the if-clause or with the main clause. Complete the following sentences, being careful to choose the correct verb forms: 1. Raina will stay in London for three years if . . . 2. She will work overtime if . . . 3. She will take another English grammar book if . . . 4. She will move to a better city if . . . 5. She will buy another computer if . . . 6. Raina would not get to her class if . . . 7. You would not pass the examination if. . . 8. You cannot get the right reply from the criminal if . . . 9. You would not get any letters if . . . 10. Raina would not make good friends if . . . 11. Raina will invite Karan if . . . 12. Raina will fail in English if . . . 13. Raina will go back toAmerica if . . . 14. She would lose wait if . . . 15. She would need more money than she gets if . . . 57

SpeakingActivity
The present essay tells you much about the importance of books in life. Now, on the basis of your own experiences discuss your own views about the importance of books and how you should study these. Express your views in at least five sentences about any aspect of reading books in the class.

WritingActivity
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: Our ancestors had great difficulty in procuring books. Ours is now what to select. We must be careful, what we read. There are, indeed, books and books and there are books, which, as Lamb said, are not books at all. There are many books; to which one may apply, in the sarcastic sense, the ambiguous remark, which Lord Beaconsfield, made to an unfortunate author, I will lose no time in reading your book. Others are more than useless, and poison the mind with suggestions of evil. Few people realize how much the happiness of life, and the formation of character, depends on a wise selection of books we read. 1. What was difficult for our ancestors to do? 2. What difficulty concerning books is felt by us today? 3. On what the happiness of life depends? 4. Give a suitable title to the above passage. 5. Give synonyms of the following words: procure sarcastic ambiguous 6. Give antonyms of the following words: difficulty useless evil

Think it over
You have been reading and writing essays for a very long time. These can be written on any topic, though the length is usually not very much. Many essayists have written essays about the art of reading books. Try to make a list of essays that deal with the art of reading books.

Things to do
One such essay was written by Montaigne, which was translated from original French into English by John Florio. The title of the Essay is Of Books. Try to read the essay of Montaigne.Also read some other essays on this subject.

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