Francis Bacon - The Essays 1601
OF INNOVATIONS
As the births of living creatures,
at first are ill-shapen
so are all innovations,
which are the births of time. Yet notwithstanding,
as those that first
bring honor into their family,
are commonly more worthy
than most that succeed,
so the first precedent (if it be good)
is seldom attained by imitation. For ill, to man's nature,
as it stands perverted,
hath a natural motion, strongest in continuance; but good,
as a forced motion, strongest at first.
Surely every medicine is an innovation;
and he that will
not apply new remedies,
must expect new evils;
for time is the greatest innovator;
and if time of
course alter things to the worse,
and wisdom and counsel
shall not alter them to the better,
what shall be the end? It is true,
that what is settled by custom,
though it be not good,
yet at least it is fit;
and those things which
have long gone together, are, as it were, confederate within themselves;
whereas new things piece not so well;
but though they help by their utility,
yet they trouble by their inconformity. Besides,
they are like strangers; more admired, and less favored.
All this is true,
if time stood still;
which contrariwise moveth so round,
that a froward retention of custom,
is as turbulent a
thing as an innovation;
and they that reverence
too much old times,
are but a scorn to the new. It were good, therefore,
that men in their
innovations would follow the
example of time itself;
which indeed innovateth greatly, but quietly,
by degrees scarce to be perceived. For otherwise,
whatsoever is new is unlooked for;
and ever it mends some, and pairs others;
and he that holpen,
takes it for a fortune,
and thanks the time;
and he that is hurt, for a wrong,
and imputeth it to the author.
It is good also,
not to try experiments in states,
except the necessity be urgent,
or the utility evident;
and well to beware,
that it be the reformation,
that draweth on the change,
and not the desire of change,
that pretendeth the reformation. And lastly, that the novelty,
though it be not rejected,
yet be held for a suspect; and,
as the Scripture saith,
that we make a
stand upon the ancient way,
and then look about us,
and discover what is
the straight and right way,
and so to walk in it.
- Impressum -