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Of Studies by Francis Bacon

Of Studies


Of Studies is one of the finest essays of Francis Bacon. Through this essay Bacon has emphasized the function of studies. To Bacon, studies serve us with proficiency, elegance and delight. Reading is appealing because we can enjoy it. We do not need any company for the pleasure of reading. If we like reading, books become a source of pleasure. According to Bacon, spending too much time is undesirable. There are men who use studies as an ornament of culture and they feel proud of that. Bacon calls it pretence in the learned man and there is trend to show off his learning. Studies should have a prolific and useful aim through action. Human character is not free from follies and fault. Studies help to accurate them in proper order and attain rightness to a great extent. Studies correct what is wrong in human nature. Only bookish knowledge cannot lead us far. Academic learning should be supported by practical experience of life. Studies become fruitful only when they are combined with experience. Before accepting opinions of others, a learned man should judge them properly and wisely. To judge any or opinion critically and wisely is the main purpose of learning. All books are not important equally. According to Bacon, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." Some books are not to be read inquisitively. There are really good books, which should be read deeply with hard work and concentration. Those books which do not have much practical importance, need not be read with great attention. Reading improves the natural abilities of a man. Through reading a person becomes full man and by discussion he becomes a ready man. Then he needs writing, which makes the learner's idea clear and accurate. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. At first a man should read carefully, then discuss the ideas, and finally write them. According to Bacon, every subject influences the mind in its own way. Every subject serves a definite intellectual purpose. To strengthen our intellectual capacity it is essential to study all these subjects, otherwise our studies will remain incomplete.   

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