Robert Bridges, ed. (1844–1930). The Spirit of Man: An Anthology. 1916.
Advancement of Learning, II. xxi. 5
Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
CAN1 it be doubted but that there are some who take more pleasure in enjoying pleasures than some other, and yet nevertheless are less troubled with the loss or leaving of them?… And it seemeth to me that most of the doctrines of the philosophers are more fearful and cautionary than the nature of things requireth. So have they increased the fear of death in offering to cure it. For when they would have a man’s whole life to be but a discipline or preparation to die, they must needs make men think that it is a terrible enemy, against whom there is no end of preparing … So have they sought to make men’s minds too uniform and harmonical, by not breaking them sufficiently to contrary motions: the reason whereof I suppose to be, because they themselves were men dedicated to a private, free, and unapplied course of life … Men ought so to procure serenity as they destroy not magnanimity.
