The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral
Francis Bacon, 1597
Short, dense essays on revenge, friendship, wealth, ambition and fear, written like a clever advisor's notes. Each page packs a lifetime of worldly observation into a few sharp sentences.
Francis Bacon
1561–1626
Bacon rose to Lord Chancellor of England, then in 1621 admitted to taking bribes as a judge and was removed from office. He kept revising the Essays until his death.
Feels like curiosity, morality and power.
Why forgiving an enemy may be the stronger move.
For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong, putteth the law out of office. Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon. And Solomon, I am sure, saith, It is the glory of a man, to pass by an offence. That which is past is gone, and irrevocable; and wise men have enough to do, with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle with themselves, that labor in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong, for the wrong’s sake; but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honor, or the like. Therefore why should I be angry with a man, for loving himself better than me? Books by Francis Bacon
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