Essays: “Of Boldness” by Francis Bacon (3/142)

In an effort to educate myself, I am reading The Oxford Book of Essays, chosen and edited by John Gross. [copies for sale here] There’s 142 of the blighters, so it will take me all year. To make this “stick” I am going to blog each essay.

This essay is online

Who was the author: Francis Bacon 1561–1626

What happened the year they were born (and the C02 ppm): UFOs over Nuremberg. 270ppmish

The Big Events they were alive for: The Armada. Shakespeare. The death of Elizabeth, the rumblings towards the English Civil War. Galileo. Early colonies

What happened in the year they died (and the C02 ppm): The purchase of Manhattan etc. 270ish

My awareness of/appreciation of this author (if any): Mostly unfamiliar with him. Should probably read the Wikipedia entry closely?!

What’s the essay?

The essay is called “Of Boldness.” It’s 2 pages long. For me, the key take-aways were that Bacon is astute and offering really good advice on the strengths and weaknesses of boldness and bold people

(One is reminded of the aviation adage – “there are bold pilots and there are old pilots but there are no old bold pilots…”

Best line(s)

There is in human nature generally, more of the fool than of the wise; and therefore those faculties, by which the foolish part of men’s minds is taken, are most potent. 

But nevertheless it doth fascinate, and bind hand and foot, those that are either shallow in judgment, or weak in courage, which are the greatest part; yea and prevaileth with wise men at weak times

For boldness is an ill-keeper of promise

boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not danger, and inconveniences. Therefore it is ill in counsel, good in execution; so that the right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For in counsel, it is good to see dangers; and in execution, not to see them, except they be very great.

Stuff I had to look up

none

Stuff worth thinking about.

Knowing when to be bold and when to be cautious! And sticking to it, there’s the rub.

Stuff to look up

None

Connects to (watch this space – if there are later essays that resonate with this one, I’ll come back and add a link to the post for that essay).