Studies serve for delight, for ornament1, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse2; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition3 of business[1]. For expert man can execute4, and perhaps judge of particulars5, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling6 of affairs come best from those that are learned.
To spend too much time in studies is sloth7; to use them too much for ornament is affectation8; to make judgement wholly by their rules is the humour[2] of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
Crafty9 men contemn10 studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict11 and confute12; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence13 and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy14 and extracts15 made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.
Reading maketh[3] a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer16 little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not.
Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric17 able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stand or impediment18 in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins19; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations20, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish21 or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate22 another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.