Of Great Place

MEN in great place are thrice servants: ser-

vants of the sovereign or state; servants of

fame; and servants of business.  So as they have no

freedom; neither in their persons, nor in their ac-

tions, nor in their times.  It is a strange desire, to

seek power and to lose liberty: or to seek power

over others, and to lose power over a man's self.

The rising unto place is laborious; and by pains,

men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes

base; and by indignities, men come to dignities.

The standing is slippery, and the regress is either

a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melan-

choly thing.  Cum non sis qui fueris, non esse cur

velis vivere.  Nay, retire men cannot when they

would, neither will they, when it were reason; but

are impatient of privateness, even in age and sick-

ness, which require the shadow; like old towns-

men, that will be still sitting at their street door,

though thereby they offer age to scom.  Certainly

great persons had need to borrow other men's

opinions, to think themselves happy; for if they

judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it; but

if they think with themselves, what other men

think of them, and that other men would fain be,

as they are, then they are happy, as it were, by

report; when perhaps they find the contrary

within.  For they are the first, that find their own

griefs, though they be the last, that find their

own faults.  Certainly men in great fortunes are

strangers to themselves, and while they are in the

puzzle of business, they have no time to tend their

health, either of body or mind.  Illi mors gravis

incubat, qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur

sibi.  In place, there is license to do good, and evil;

whereof the latter is a curse: for in evil, the best

condition is not to win; the second, not to can.  But

power to do good, is the true and lawful end of

aspiring.  For good thoughts (though God accept

them) yet, towards men, are little better than good

dreams, except they be put in act; and that cannot

be, without power and place, as the vantage, and

commanding ground.  Merit and good works, is

the end of man's motion; and conscience of the

same is the accomplishment of man's rest.  For if a

man can be partaker of God's theatre, he shall like-

wise be partaker of God's rest.  Et conversus Deus,

ut aspiceret opera quae fecerunt manus suae, vidit

quod omnia essent bona nimis; and then the sab-

bath.  In the discharge of thy place, set before thee

the best examples; for imitation is a globe of pre-

cepts.  And after a time, set before thee thine own

example; and examine thyself strictly, whether

thou didst not best at first.  Neglect not also the

examples, of those that have carried themselves

ill, in the same place; not to set off thyself, by tax-

ing their memory, but to direct thyself, what to

avoid.  Reform therefore, without bravery, or scan-

dal of former times and persons; but yet set it down

to thyself, as well to create good precedents, as to

follow them.  Reduce things to the first institution,

and observe wherein, and how, they have degen-

erate; but yet ask counsel of both times; of the

ancient time, what is best; and of the latter time,

what is fittest.  Seek to make thy course regular,

that men may know beforehand, what they may

expect; but be not too positive and peremptory;

and express thyself well, when thou digressest

from thy rule.  Preserve the right of thy place; but

stir not questions of jurisdiction; and rather as-

sume thy right, in silence and de facto, than voice

it with claims, and challenges.  Preserve likewise

the rights of inferior places; and think it more

honor, to direct in chief, than to be busy in all.

Embrace and invite helps, and advices, touching

the execution of thy place; and do not drive away

such, as bring thee information, as meddlers; but

accept of them in good part.  The vices of authority

are chiefly four: delays, corruption, roughness,

and facility.  For delays: give easy access; keep

times appointed; go through with that which is in

hand, and interlace not business, but of necessity.

For corruption: do not only bind thine own hands,

or thy servants' hands, from taking, but bind the

hands of suitors also, from offering.  For integrity

used doth the one; but integrity professed, and

with a manifest detestation of bribery, doth the

other.  And avoid not only the fault, but the sus-

picion.  Whosoever is found variable, and changeth

manifestly without manifest cause, giveth sus-

picion of corruption.  Therefore always, when thou

changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly,

and declare it, together with the reasons that move

thee to change; and do not think to steal it.  A

servant or a favorite, if he be inward, and no

other apparent cause of esteem, is commonly

thought, but a by-way to close corruption.  For

roughness: it is a needless cause of discontent:

severity breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth

hate.  Even reproofs from authority, ought to be

grave, and not taunting.  As for facility: it is worse

than bribery.  For bribes come but now and then;

but if importunity, or idle respects, lead a man, he

shall never be without.  As Solomon saith, To re-

spect persons is not good; for such a man will

transgress for a piece of bread.  It is most true, that

was anciently spoken, A place showeth the man.

And it showeth some to the better, and some to the

worse.  Omnium consensu capax imperii, nisi im-

perasset, saith Tacitus of Galba; but of Vespasian

he saith, Solus imperantium, Vespasianus mutatus

in melius; though the one was meant of sufficiency,

the other of manners, and affection.  It is an assured

sign of a worthy and generous spirit, whom honor

amends.  For honor is, or should be, the place of

virtue; and as in nature, things move violently to

their place, and calmly in their place, so virtue in

ambition is violent, in authority settled and calm.

All rising to great place is by a winding star; and

if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self,

whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself

when he is placed.  Use the memory of thy prede-

cessor, fairly and tenderly; for if thou dost not, it is

a debt will sure be paid when thou art gone.  If

thou have colleagues, respect them, and rather call

them, when they look not for it, than exclude

them , when they have reason to look to be called.

Be not too sensible, or too remembering, of thy

place in conversation, and private answers to

suitors; but let it rather be said, When he sits in

place, he is another man.