【正文】 ecute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one。 but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, e best, from those that are learnd To spend too much time in studies is sloth。 to use them too much for ornament, is affectation。 to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor 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, de give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experienc Crafty men contemn 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 contradict and confute。 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 diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them bothers。 but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like mon distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh 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 confer 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 subtitle。 natural philosophy deep。 moral grave。 logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stand or impediment 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 reins。 shooting for the lungs and breast。 gentle walking for the stomach。 riding for the head。 and the lik So if a mans wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics。 for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen。 for they are cymini sectors. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt. 譯文 讀書可以作為消遣，可以作為裝飾，也可以增長才干。孤獨(dú)寂寞時，閱讀可以消遣。高談闊論時，知識可供裝飾。處世行事時，知識意味著才干。練達(dá)之士雖能分別處理細(xì)事或一一判別枝節(jié)，然縱觀統(tǒng)籌、全局策劃，則舍好學(xué)深思者莫屬。讀書太慢的人馳惰，為裝潢而讀書是欺人，完全按照書本做事就是呆子。 求知可以改進(jìn)人性，而經(jīng)驗(yàn)又可以改進(jìn)知識本身。人的天性猶如野生的花草，求知學(xué)習(xí)好比修剪移栽。學(xué)問雖能指引方向，但往往流于淺泛，必須依靠經(jīng)驗(yàn)才能扎下根基有的書可以請人代讀，然后看他的筆記摘要就行了。但這只應(yīng)限于不太重要的議論和質(zhì)量粗劣的書。否則一本書將像已被蒸餾過的水，變得淡而無味了。讀史使人明智，讀詩使人靈秀，數(shù)學(xué)使人周密，科學(xué)使人深刻，倫理學(xué)使人莊重，邏輯修辭之學(xué)使人善辯：凡有所學(xué)，皆成性格。人之才智但有滯礙，無不可讀適當(dāng)之書使之順暢. 例如打球有利于腰背，射箭可擴(kuò)胸利肺，散步則有助于消化，騎術(shù)使人反應(yīng)敏捷，等等。同樣道理，一個思維不集中的人，他可以研習(xí)數(shù)學(xué)，因?yàn)閿?shù)學(xué)稍不仔細(xì)就會出錯。缺乏分析判斷的人，他可以研習(xí)而上學(xué)，因?yàn)檫@門學(xué)問最講究細(xì)瑣的辯證。不善于推理的人，可以研習(xí)法律案例。如此等等。這種心靈上的缺陷，都可以通過學(xué)習(xí)而得到改善。