Of Seeming Wise

IT HATH been an opinion, that the French are

wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem

wiser than they are.  But howsoever it be between

nations, certainly it is so between man and man.

For as the Apostle saith of godliness, Having a

show of godliness, but denying the power thereof;

so certainly there are, in point of wisdom and suf-

ficiently, that do nothing or little very solemnly:

magno conatu nugas.  It is a ridiculous thing, and

fit for a satire to persons of judgment, to see what

shifts these formalists have, and what prospectives

to make superficies to seem body, that hath depth

and bulk.  Some are so close and reserved, as they

will not show their wares, but by a dark light; and

seem always to keep back somewhat; and when

they know within themselves, they speak of that

they do not well know, would nevertheless seem

to others, to know of that which they may not well

speak.  Some help themselves with countenance

and gesture, and are wise by signs; as Cicero saith

of Piso, that when he answered him, he fetched

one of his brows up to his forehead, and bent the

other down to his chin; Respondes, altero ad fron-

tem sublato,    altero ad mentum depresso super-

cilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere.  Some think

to bear it by speaking a great word, and being per-

emptory; and go on, and take by admittance, that

which they cannot make good.  Some, whatsoever

is beyond their reach, will seem to despise, or make

light of it, as impertinent or curious; and so would

have their ignorance seem judgment.  Some are

never without a difference, and commonly by

amusing men with a subtilty, blanch the matter;

of whom A. Gellius saith, Hominem delirum, qui

verborum minutiis rerum  frangit pondera.  Of

which kind also, Plato, in his Protagoras, bringeth

in Prodius in scorn, and maketh him make a

speech, that consisteth of distinction from the be-

ginning to the end.  Generally, such men in all

deliberations find ease to be of the negative side,

and affect a credit to object and foretell difficul-

ties; for when propositions are denied, there is an

end of them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a

new work; which false point of wisdom is the bane

of business.  To conclude, there is no decaying mer-

chant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to

uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty

persons have, to maintain the credit of their suf-

ficiency.  Seeming wise men may make shift to get

opinion; but let no man choose them for employ-

ment; for certainly you were better take for busi-

ness, a man somewhat absurd, than over-formal.