1. Studies serves……business.
In these lines of his famous essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon lays down the advantages of study.
There are three advantages of study. It gives pleasure, prestige and ability.
It gives pleasure to a person when he is leading a lonely life. Books are said to be the best companions. By reading books we are lost in the world created by the author. We talk to the characters of the books. And thus books help us to forget that we are alone. Further it gives prestige to a person when he is engaged in discussion. It is a fact that only that person can argue and discuss who is well-read. And as such study enables a person to acquire knowledge, which he uses during the discussion and thus gets prestige. And finally it gives the ability for performing business. Knowledge is a lamp which shows our path. And we get knowledge from books. A person who has to dispose of business and take decision on various matters, he must have sound knowledge. And this knowledge he gets from books only. Thus study gives ability.
2. For expert men……..learned.
In these lines of his famous essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon shows superiority of a learned person over a specialist.
Here learned stands for a person who has studied different branches of knowledge and gained a general view. On the other hand a specialist specializes himself in a particular branch of knowledge. A specialist’s knowledge is confined to his subject only. No doubt, he can give best judgment on any matter relating to his subject, but where a judgment which requires a general view, he fails utterly. In such cases a learned person comes successful. General advice in respect of planning and management of business can best be given by a well-read person only, because he possesses vast knowledge and large perspective.
Here we get the personal touch of the essayist. Of course Bacon was a versatile genius. He had studied different branches of the knowledge. And thus here he is speaking from his own experience.
3. To spend too much……scholar.
In these lines of his famous essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon points out the drawbacks which arises due to misuse of study.
No doubt, study can be a source of gaining, delight, prestige and ability. but excessive use of study for this above purpose, gives some adverse result.
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In retirement study can be used only as a means of entertainment. As such only a part of day’s life is devoted to it. But if a man devotes his entire time in study, he becomes lazy. Similarly if one employs too much ornamental language during the speech, it destroys the naturality. It hampers the natural flow, and everything looks artificial. And if a person uses only bookish knowledge in managing general affairs, keeping the practical knowledge aside, it becomes something humourous.
A man should not see everything through the eyes of books only. He should use the eyes of experience also. It means that theoretical knowledge should be supported by the practical experience.
4. Histories…….able to contend.
These lines are from Bacon’s ‘Of Studies. In these lines the author gives the different effects of different subjects upon human mind and nature. According to him we derive wisdom from the study of history. The study of poetry gives wit, for poetry is written in the best kind of language. The study of mathematics gives fineness. By the study of Philosophy we gain depth, The study of moral science gives gravity. The study of logic and rhetoric makes one in a position to quarrel or enter discussion. In this way we see that different subject have different duty to perform. Real perfection can be achieved by the study of all these different subjects. One should not depend upon a particular subject only if one has to achieve perfection.
5. Read not to…… weigh and consider.
In these lines of his famous essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon tells the reader the real purpose of study.
One should not read only with a view to prove others wrong. Some persons study only with an object to equip themselves with arguments for refuting others. But this is not the real use of study. Study should impart some permanent ability. But a man should not read to accept everything that is conveyed through books. The real object of study should be to cultivate understanding which may help in finding out the proper value of things. Thus study must impart wisdom to understand value of a thing, to distinguish right from wrong.
6. Some books……..diligence.
In these lines of his famous essay ‘Of Studies’ Francis Bacon categorises the books in three classes from the viewpoint of attention and diligence which their studies require.
All books are not of equal value and therefore equal labour and attention need not be devoted to all.
In order to make his point clear. Bacon compares books with food. Some books are like light food. They are just to be tasted. They are just to change the taste. Hence like light food they are tasted. Only a slight attention is devoted to them. On the other hand some books are such that their studies require some attention and labour. But only a slight labour on the part of the reader can serve the purpose.
As some foods are not required to be chewed slowly, but are swallowed hastily, so some books are also to be swallowed i.e. they are to be read in parts and with haste. But in case of our main diet we chew and digest them. So some foods are such that they can be neither tasted nor swallowed but must be chewed and digested. Similarly some books are such that they require much time, patience, labour and attention in order to grasp them. So these are three categories of books according to Bacon.
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