No More Learning

For which cause I wish them sent to the best
school, and a public, which I think the best. Your lordship, I fear,
hardly hears of that, as willing to breed them in your eye and at home,
and doubting their manners may be corrupted abroad. They are in more
danger in your own family, among ill servants (allowing they be safe in
their schoolmaster), than amongst a thousand boys, however immodest.
Would we did not spoil our own children, and overthrow their manners
ourselves by too much indulgence! To breed them at home is to breed them
in a shade, whereas in a school they have the light and heat of the sun.
They are used and accustomed to things and men. When they come forth
into the common-wealth, they find nothing new, or to seek. They have
made their friendships and aids, some to last their age. They hear what
is commanded to others as well as themselves; much approved, much
corrected; all which they bring to their own store and use, and learn as
much as they hear. Eloquence would be but a poor thing if we should only
converse with singulars, speak but man and man together. Therefore I
like no private breeding. I would send them where their industry should
be daily increased by praise, and that kindled by emulation. It is a
good thing to inflame the mind; and though ambition itself be a vice, it
is often the cause of great virtue. Give me that wit whom praise
excites, glory puts on, or disgrace grieves; he is to be nourished with
ambition, pricked forward with honour, checked with reprehension, and
never to be suspected of sloth. Though he be given to play, it is a sign
of spirit and liveliness, so there be a mean had of their sports and
relaxations.
And from the rod or ferule I would have them free, as from
the menace of them; for it is both deformed and servile.

_De stylo_, _et optimo scribendi genere_. --For a man to write well, there
are required three necessaries--to read the best authors, observe the best
speakers, and much exercise of his own style; in style to consider what
ought to be written, and after what manner. He must first think and
excogitate his matter, then choose his words, and examine the weight of
either. Then take care, in placing and ranking both matter and words,
that the composition be comely; and to do this with diligence and often.
No matter how slow the style be at first, so it be laboured and accurate;
seek the best, and be not glad of the froward conceits, or first words,
that offer themselves to us; but judge of what we invent, and order what
we approve. Repeat often what we have formerly written; which beside
that it helps the consequence, and makes the juncture better, it quickens
the heat of imagination, that often cools in the time of setting down,
and gives it new strength, as if it grew lustier by the going back; as we
see in the contention of leaping, they jump farthest that fetch their
race largest; or, as in throwing a dart or javelin, we force back our
arms to make our loose the stronger. Yet, if we have a fair gale of
wind, I forbid not the steering out of our sail, so the favour of the
gale deceive us not. For all that we invent doth please us in conception
of birth, else we would never set it down. But the safest is to return
to our judgment, and handle over again those things the easiness of which
might make them justly suspected. So did the best writers in their
beginnings; they imposed upon themselves care and industry; they did
nothing rashly: they obtained first to write well, and then custom made
it easy and a habit. By little and little their matter showed itself to
them more plentifully; their words answered, their composition followed;
and all, as in a well-ordered family, presented itself in the place. So
that the sum of all is, ready writing makes not good writing, but good
writing brings on ready writing yet, when we think we have got the
faculty, it is even then good to resist it, as to give a horse a check
sometimes with a bit, which doth not so much stop his course as stir his
mettle. Again, whether a man's genius is best able to reach thither, it
should more and more contend, lift and dilate itself, as men of low
stature raise themselves on their toes, and so ofttimes get even, if not
eminent. Besides, as it is fit for grown and able writers to stand of
themselves, and work with their own strength, to trust and endeavour by
their own faculties, so it is fit for the beginner and learner to study
others and the best. For the mind and memory are more sharply exercised
in comprehending another man's things than our own; and such as accustom
themselves and are familiar with the best authors shall ever and anon
find somewhat of them in themselves, and in the expression of their
minds, even when they feel it not, be able to utter something like
theirs, which hath an authority above their own.