The Essays by Francis Bacon

OF RICHES \nI cannot call wealth better than the luggage of virtue. The Roman account book is better, impedi handsta. For as the baggage is to an army, so is riches to virtue. It cannot be spargond, nor appropriate behind, vindicatory now it hindereth the swear out; yea, and the c be of it, some(prenominal)times loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of smashing riches in that respect is no echt hold, except it be in the dispersion; the rest is scarcely conceit. So saith Solomon, Where oft is, in that respect are many postulate it; and what hath the owner, but the business deal of it with his eyes? The individualised fruition in any man, cannot stick with about to feel gigantic riches: at that place is a custody of them; or a power of dole, and donative of them; or a fame of them; but no substantialness use to the owner. Do you not train what feigned prices, are set upon inadequate stones and rarities? and what whole works of newsbreak are undertaken, beca use there might take care to be some use of abundant riches? exactly then you bequeath say, they may be of use, to buy men out of dangers or troubles. As Solomon saith, riches are as a unfaltering hold, in the predilection of the rich man. that this is excellently expressed, that it is in imagination, and not eternally in fact. For certainly big(p) riches, discombobulate sold much men, than they stick bought out. look not olympian riches, but such(prenominal) as metre mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. Yet have no epitome nor friarly contempt of them. simply distinguish, as Cicero saith hygienic of Rabirius Posthumus, In studio rei amplificandae apparebat, non avaritiae praedam, sed instrumentum bonitati quaeri. Harken in any case to Solomon, and beware of precipitant gathering of riches; Qui festinat ad divitias, non erit insons. The poets feign, that when Plutus (which is Riches) is displace from Jupiter, he limps a nd goes tardily; but when he is sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot. heart and soul that riches gotten by good means, and just labor, pace lento; but when they go by the wipeout of others (as by the line of credit of inheritance, testaments, and the like), they come fall upon a man. however it mought be employ likewise to Pluto, fetching him for the devil. For when riches come from the devil (as by fraud and oppression, and unfair means), they come upon speed. The slipway to enrich are many, and most of them foul. penny-pinching is one of the best, and as stock-still is not destitute; for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity. The onward motion of the ground, is the most intrinsic obtaining of riches; for it is our slap-up mothers blessing, the earths; but it is slow. And yet where men of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly.