Of Studies

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 humor 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; 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.

学问之用有三：供人愉悦，为人增色，助人成事。用于愉悦，多在独处退居之时；用于增色，多在言谈交际之间；用于成事，则在判断与处置事务之际。富于经验的人能办理具体的事，或许也能一件一件地判断；但通盘的筹划，事务的谋略与调度，最好出自有学问的人。在学问上耗时太多，是懒惰；过分拿它装点门面，是做作；凡事全凭书上的规矩下判断，是书生的癖气。学问使天性趋于完善，学问本身又要靠经验来完善：天生的才能好比野生的草木，需要学问来修剪；而学问自己给出的指引往往过于宽泛，必须用经验加以约束。狡黠的人轻视学问，单纯的人崇拜学问，明智的人运用学问；因为学问并不教人怎样使用它自己，那是一种在学问之外、之上的智慧，要靠观察才能得到。读书不是为了反驳和驳倒，不是为了轻信和照单全收，也不是为了找谈资，而是为了掂量和思考。有的书只须浅尝，有的书可以整个吞下，少数的书则要细细咀嚼、慢慢消化；就是说，有的书只读其中几部分，有的书读完即可，不必深究，少数的书则要从头读到尾，而且读得勤勉专注。有的书也可以请人代读，看别人做的摘要；但这只适用于题目不甚要紧、品类较低的书，否则，经过提炼的书就像寻常的蒸馏水，寡淡无味。阅读使人丰盈，交谈使人敏捷，写作使人精确。所以，一个人如果很少写作，就需要极好的记性；如果很少与人交谈，就需要随机应变的机智；如果很少读书，就需要很多机巧，才能装作知道自己其实不知道的东西。历史让人通达，诗让人灵巧，数学让人缜密，自然哲学让人深沉，道德哲学让人持重，逻辑与修辞让人能言善辩。所学化为品性（Abeunt studia in mores）。不仅如此，心智上的任何阻滞，都可以用合适的学问来疏通，正如身体的种种病症，都有相应的锻炼：滚球有益于结石与肾，射箭有益于肺与胸，缓步有益于胃，骑马有益于头脑，诸如此类。所以，如果一个人心思散漫，就让他学数学；因为在演证的过程中，心思只要稍一走神，就得从头再来。如果他不善于分辨、看不出事物的差异，就让他读经院学者的书；因为他们是“切分孜然籽的人”（cymini sectores）。如果他不善于反复推敲，不善于援引一件事来证明和阐明另一件事，就让他研读律师的案例。如此，心智的每一种缺陷，都可以有一剂专门的药方。