{19c} I do not desire to be equal to those
that went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much
faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict.
that went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much
faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict.
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
--I cannot think Nature is so spent and decayed that
she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the
same, like herself; and when she collects her strength is abler still.
Men are decayed, and studies: she is not.
_Non nimium credendum antiquitati_. --I know nothing can conduce more to
letters than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest in
their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them, provided the
plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are
envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurrilous scoffing. For
to all the observations of the ancients we have our own experience, which
if we will use and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true
they opened the gates, and made the way that went before us, but as
guides, not commanders: _Non domini nostri_, _sed duces fuere_. {19a}
Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several. _Patet omnibus veritas_;
_nondum est occupata_. _Multum ex illa_, _etiam futuris relicta est_.
{19b}
_Dissentire licet_, _sed cum ratione_. --If in some things I dissent from
others, whose wit, industry, diligence, and judgment, I look up at and
admire, let me not therefore hear presently of ingratitude and rashness.
For I thank those that have taught me, and will ever; but yet dare not
think the scope of their labour and inquiry was to envy their posterity
what they also could add and find out.
_Non mihi credendum sed veritati_. --If I err, pardon me: _Nulla ars simul
et inventa est et absoluta_.
{19c} I do not desire to be equal to those
that went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much
faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict. I am neither author
nor fautor of any sect. I will have no man addict himself to me; but if
I have anything right, defend it as Truth's, not mine, save as it
conduceth to a common good. It profits not me to have any man fence or
fight for me, to flourish, or take my side. Stand for truth, and 'tis
enough.
_Scientiae liberales_. --Arts that respect the mind were ever reputed nobler
than those that serve the body, though we less can be without them, as
tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c. , without which we could scarce
sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the other of
the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits and spirits,
that cannot rest or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour:
_Opere pascitur_.
_Non vulgi sunt_. --There is a more secret cause, and the power of liberal
studies lies more hid than that it can be wrought out by profane wits.
It is not every man's way to hit. There are men, I confess, that set the
carat and value upon things as they love them; but science is not every
man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place,
and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
_Honesta ambitio_.
she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the
same, like herself; and when she collects her strength is abler still.
Men are decayed, and studies: she is not.
_Non nimium credendum antiquitati_. --I know nothing can conduce more to
letters than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest in
their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them, provided the
plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are
envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurrilous scoffing. For
to all the observations of the ancients we have our own experience, which
if we will use and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true
they opened the gates, and made the way that went before us, but as
guides, not commanders: _Non domini nostri_, _sed duces fuere_. {19a}
Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several. _Patet omnibus veritas_;
_nondum est occupata_. _Multum ex illa_, _etiam futuris relicta est_.
{19b}
_Dissentire licet_, _sed cum ratione_. --If in some things I dissent from
others, whose wit, industry, diligence, and judgment, I look up at and
admire, let me not therefore hear presently of ingratitude and rashness.
For I thank those that have taught me, and will ever; but yet dare not
think the scope of their labour and inquiry was to envy their posterity
what they also could add and find out.
_Non mihi credendum sed veritati_. --If I err, pardon me: _Nulla ars simul
et inventa est et absoluta_.
{19c} I do not desire to be equal to those
that went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much
faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict. I am neither author
nor fautor of any sect. I will have no man addict himself to me; but if
I have anything right, defend it as Truth's, not mine, save as it
conduceth to a common good. It profits not me to have any man fence or
fight for me, to flourish, or take my side. Stand for truth, and 'tis
enough.
_Scientiae liberales_. --Arts that respect the mind were ever reputed nobler
than those that serve the body, though we less can be without them, as
tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c. , without which we could scarce
sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the other of
the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits and spirits,
that cannot rest or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour:
_Opere pascitur_.
_Non vulgi sunt_. --There is a more secret cause, and the power of liberal
studies lies more hid than that it can be wrought out by profane wits.
It is not every man's way to hit. There are men, I confess, that set the
carat and value upon things as they love them; but science is not every
man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place,
and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
_Honesta ambitio_.
