francis bacon

Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning, Divine and Humane

First published 1605 · the first edition (1605)

Book I

To the King
There were under the Lawe (excellent King) both dayly Sacrifices, and free will Offerings; The one proceeding upon ordinarie observance;…
The Discredites of Learning from Divines
In the entrance to the former of these; to cleere the way, & as it were to make silence, to have the true testimonies concerning the…
The Disgraces of Learning from Politiques
And as for the disgraces which learning receiveth from Politiques, they bee of this nature; that learning doth soften mens mindes, and…
Discredite from Learned Men themselves
Now therefore, we come to that third sort of discredite, or diminution of credite, that groweth unto learning from learned men themselves,…
The Three Diseases of Learning
Now I proceede to those errours and vanities, which have interveyned amongst the studies themselves of the learned; which is that which is…
Peccant Humours
The first of these is the extreame affecting of two extreamities; The one Antiquity, The other Novelty; wherein it seemeth the children of…
Divine Testimonie
First therefore, let us seeke the dignitie of knowledge in the Arch-tipe or first plat forme, which is is in the attributes and acts of…
Humane Testimonie
As for humane proofes, it is so large a field, as in a discourse of this nature and brevitie, it is fit rather to use choise of those…
Morall and Private Vertue
To proceede now from imperiall and militarie vertue, to morall and private vertue; first, it is an assured truth, which is contained in the…

Book II

To the King
It might seeme to have more convenience, though it come often otherwise to passe, (Excellent King) that those which are fruitfull in their…
The Parts of Humane Learning; History Naturall
The parts of humane learning have reference to the three partes of Mans understanding, which is the seate of Learning: History to his…
Civile History
For Civile History, it is of three kinds, not unfitly to be compared with the three kinds of Pictures or Images: for of Pictures or Images,…
History Ecclesiasticall
History ecclsiastical, receiveth the same divisions with History civil; but furder in the proprietie thereof may bee devided into History…
Poesie
Poesie is a part of Learning in measure of words for the most part restrained: but in all other points extreamely licensed: and doth truly…
Divinitie and Philosophie
The knowledge of Man is as the waters, some descending from above, and some springing from beneath, the one informed by the light of…
Divine Philosophie, or Naturall Theologie
This science beeing therefore first placed as a common parent, like unto Berecinthia, which had so much Heavenlie yssue, Omnes Cælicolas,…
Naturall Philosophie
Leaving therefore Divine Philosophy, or Naturall Theologie, (not Divinitie, or Inspired Theol’OGIE, which wee reserve for the last of all,…
Mathematicks, Pure and Mixt
Neverthelesse there remaineth yet another part of Naturall Philosophie, which is commonly made a principall part, and holdeth ranke with…
Humane Philosophy, or the Knowledge of our Selves
We come therefore now to that knowledge, whereunto the ancient Oracle directeth us, which is, the knowledge of our selves: which deserveth…
Humane Philosophie which concernes the Bodie
The knowledge that concerneth mans bodie, is divided as the good of mans bodie is divided, unto which it referreth. The good of mans body,…
Humane Knowledge which concernes the Mind
For Humane Knowledge, Which Concernes The Mind, it hath two parts, the one that enquireth of The Substance, Or Nature Of The Soule Or Mind;…
The Faculties of the Minde of Man
The knowledge which respecteth the faculties of the minde of man, is of two kinds: The one respecting his Understanding and Reason, and the…
Invention
Invention is of two kindes much differing; The one of Arts and Sciences, and the other of Speech and Arguments. The former of these, I doe…
The Artes of Judgement
Nowe wee passe unto the Artes Of Judgement, which handle the Natures of Proofes and Demonstrations; which as to Induction hath a…
The Custodie of Knowledge
The Custodie or retayning of Knowledge, is either in Writing or Memorie; whereof Writinge hath twoo partes; The Nature of the Character,…
Tradition or Deliverie
There remayneth the fourth kinde of Rationall Knowledge, which is transitive, concerning the expressing or transferring our Knowledg to…
The Methode of Tradition
For the Methode Of Tradition, I see it hath mooved a Controversie in our time. But as in Civile businesse, if there bee a meeting and men…
Rhetoricke, or Art of Eloquence
Nowe wee descend to that part, which concerneth the Illustration Of Tradition, comprehended in that Science, which wee call Rhetoricke, Or…
Two Appendices: Criticall and Pedanticall
There remayn two Appendices touching the tradition of knowledge, The one Criticall, The other Pedanticall. For all knowledge is eyther…
The Appetite and Will of Man
We proceed now to that knowledge which considereth of the Appetite and Will Of Man, whereof Salomon sayth Ante omnia fili custodi cor tuum,…
Good Active and Passive
To resume private or particular good; it falleth into the division of Good Active & Passive; For this difference of Good, (not unlike to…
The Culture of the Mind
Now therefore, that we have spoken of this fruite of life, it remaineth to speake of the Husbandry that belongeth thereunto, without which…
Civile Knowledge
Civile knowledge is conuersant about a subject which of all others is most immersed in matter, and hardliest reduced to Actiome.…
Philosophy in Generall
Thus have I concluded this portion of learning touching Civill knowledge, & with Civill knowledge have concluded Humane Philosophy and with…
Sacred and Inspired Divinitie
The prerogative of God extendeth as well to the reason as to the will of Man; So that as we are to obey his law though we finde a…
A Small Globe of the Intellectuall World
Thus have I made as it were a small Globe of the Intellectuall world, as truly and faithfully as I coulde discover, with a note and…