Francis Bacon: On Praise: Gratitude is a reflection of virtue. However, it depends on the mirror or person who reflects it. If it comes from a simple-minded world, it is usually untrue and worthless, and it is more likely to follow vain individuals rather than virtuous ones. The simple-minded world fails to recognize many excellent virtues. It praises the most basic virtues; it admires and marvels at mediocre virtues, but it has no sense and does not notice the highest ones at all. However, it is most comfortable with the representation of apparent virtues. Indeed, fame is like a river that carries light and inflated objects, and sinks those that are solid and heavy. But if reputable and wise individuals agree with the praise, then it is (as the Holy Scripture says) Nomen bonum instar unguenti fragrantis (A good name is like fragrant oil). It spreads everywhere and is not easily lost. For the scents of oil last longer than the fragrance of flowers. Praise is often directed towards those who do not deserve it, so a person can rightly be skeptic ripen towards them. Some praises stem only from flattery, and if a person is a simple flatterer, they will possess a certain number of kind words that they can address to anyone; and if they are a cunning flatterer, they will follow the lead of the top flatterer, which is human nature, and they will emphasize the best that a person thinks of themselves; but if the flatterer is audacious, they will target what a person is aware they lack in and feel most uncomfortable about, and that is what they will forcefully attribute to them, disregarding their conscience. Some praises come from good wishes and respect, which is a form of courtesy owed to kings and great people, praising in order to instruct, when by saying what people are, they present what they should be. Some people are praised maliciously to their detriment, in order to provoke envy and malice towards them; the worst enemies are those who praise. Thus, the Greeks had a proverb that a pimple would burst on someone’s face To mock someone who praises someone else to their detriment; just like we say to someone who lies that they will get a pimple on their tongue. Indeed, good praise is moderate, timely, and appropriate. Solomon says: He who early in the morning loudly blesses his neighbor, it will be counted as a curse to him. Exaggerating someone or something provokes dispute and engenders envy and contempt. Praising oneself is not appropriate, unless it is extremely rare; but a person can praise their profession or expertise with much politeness and generosity. Roman cardinals, who are theologians, monks, and scholars, have a habit of openly belittling civilian occupations; because they refer to secular activities such as wars, embassies, justice, and other endeavors as “sbirrerie,” which means “underworld actions”; as if those things belong in the jurisdiction of underworldcharacters and lower officials: even though those lower officials often do more good than their esteemed intellects. Saint Paul, when boasting, often uses words like: I speak like a fool; but
Thank you is a reflection of virtue. But it depends on the mirror or the person giving the reflection. If it comes from the ordinary world, it is usually untrue and trivial, and it often follows vain people rather than virtuous ones. Because the ordinary world does not recognize many outstanding virtues. The most basic virtues arouse their praise; they admire and marvel at the average virtues, but they have no sense and do not notice the highest virtues at all. But presentations and species virtutibus similes [apparent virtues] suit them best. Indeed, fame is like a river that carries light and inflated objects, and it sinks those that are firm and heavy. But if reputable and wise people agree in praise, then it is (translated from the passage). as the Holy Scripture says) A good name is like fragrant oil. It spreads all around and is not easily lost. For the scent of oil lasts longer than the scent of flowers.
Praise is often given to those who do not deserve it, so a person can be rightfully skeptical of them. Some praises only come from flattery, and if a person is an ordinary flatterer, they will have a certain number of kind words they can say to anyone. And if they are a cunning flatterer, they will follow the lead of the ultimate flatterer, which is the human ego, and they will emphasize the best that a person thinks of themselves. But if the flatterer is brazen, they will point out the areas where a person is most lacking and feels most uncomfortable, and they will forcefully attribute those to them, disregarding their conscience. Some praises come from good wishes and respect, which is a form of courtesy owed to kings and great people. So by praising, they also teach, by speaking People say that they are what they should be. Some people are maliciously praised to their disadvantage, in order to provoke envy and malice towards them; pessimum genus inimicorum laudantium (the worst enemies are those who praise). The Greeks had a proverb that a pimple would appear on the nose of someone who praises someone to their own detriment; just as we say that someone who lies will get a pimple on their tongue. Indeed, good praise is moderate, timely and appropriate. Solomon says: Whoever blesses his neighbor loudly early in the morning, it is counted as a curse to him. Exaggerating a person or thing provokes dispute and gives birth to envy and contempt.Praising oneself is not appropriate, except in very rare cases; but a person can praise their profession or occupation with great courtesy and generosity. Roman cardinals, who are theologians, monks, and scholars, have a word that derogates civil business; for they call secular activities such as wars, delegations, justice, and other tasks – breweries, which is “undermining”; as if these things belong in the jurisdiction of brewers and lower officials: although these brewers often do more good than their high intellectualism. St. Paul, when boasting, often uses the words: I speak as a fool; but when speaking about his inner calling, he says: Magnificabo apostolatum meum (I will magnify my apostolate).
