To Be a Full Man from Reading
We all know that study can cultivate a man and even make a full man. A full man should have a positive view of world, life and value, which is usually based on a balanced knowledge system. And how can we obtain this necessary knowledge? Of Studies is the answer to this question. In Bacon’s essay Of Studies, reading purposes and functions are discussed in detail. Bacon also analyzes the different attitudes to reading and introduces various methods of reading. Above all, Bacon tells us how to be a full man from reading.
In the very beginning, Bacon points out that reading can serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. We can see that reading has three functions. It delights you; it beautifies you; and it strengthens your ability. The author also says that their chief use for delight is in private life and retiring. That is to say, when you stay alone, book is your best companion which eases loneliness and brings happiness. If you are really absorbed in the book, you may not feel lonely. “For ornament, is in discourse.” When communicating or negotiating with others, knowledge learned from books can make you decent and educated. In other words, reading beautifies you in that occasion. “And for ability, is in the judgment and disposition.” Faced with affairs, an expert man can judge of particulars one by one. But to general people, he should act decisively. It means he can hold the whole situation and think out a plan. Where does this kind of ability come from? Reading. If you read all kinds of books, you are able to taste what might not happen to you in real life, and then ask yourself what you would do in that situation. Reading helps you make fewer mistakes. For that, you can learn mistake examples from books so that you may make no mistakes when you are in the same situation.
According to the essay, reading perfects people’s nature. The gold have no foot red, the person has no perfect person. Defects can be made up and reading is a superexcellent methods. Natural abilities are like natural plants that need pruning by study. Reading ten thousand books is like traveling ten thousand miles. You can accumulate knowledge little by little and one day you may find yourself wiser than others. This wisdom is not born with you but acquired after years’ effort.
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” That is to say, we should choose some book to read, but not read all the books. Some useful books should be read carefully and taken notes. Different books have different functions; the essay is telling us reading different books can bring different knowledge which we lack. And different books have different methods to read. There are countless numbers of books in the bookstores or libraries. You do not have that energy to read all the books. As a wise man, you definitely choose to select some of them to read, which is of great benefit to you. Basically, these books can give you true knowledge, perfect your personality and help you form right view of life and world. And then you have taken a big step on the way to be a full man.
Francis Bacon’s Of Studies says “histories make men wise, poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.” That is to say, we read all kinds of books that contribute to perfect our knowledge structure and form critical thinking. So we should read books of various fields to make us be a full man. That also can learn more about our world in all aspects. Reading can make a full man. That is to say, we should read more books which are useful for us. Reading can enlarge our knowledge in different fields.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Sometimes the real world is same as the ancient time and the situation we are in is quite like what our forebears suffered. Reading histories makes people learn lessons from the ancient time, avoid making the same mistakes and predict the development of things. People who read histories will be wiser than these who just act according to their own preferences without learning from histories.
Reading poems makes people learn the beauty of language, the beautiful classical style of art and live a poetic life. People who read poems will be wittier than these who haven’t feel the beautiful mood and pure life. The modern society is too busy and reading poems can slow down the pace of life and makes people not so impetuous. Putting yourself into poetic conditions, you may lead a different and easy life.
Reading mathematics makes people focus on the accurate calculation, develop a scientific attitude, and form a pragmatic spirit. And mathematics makes people attentive and think more and logically when encountering different things no matter it is big or small. People who read mathematics will be more subtle to consider things from all aspects and do things from the drop carefully than these who don’t read.
Reading natural philosophy makes people pursue truth, explore the unknown mystery, and practice actively. People who read natural philosophy will be deeper than these who don’t learn the theory of reflecting the truth.
Reading moral makes people learn the way of harmony living, form the principle of ethical behaviors and develop correct outlooks on values. In other words, people who read moral know how to live in the society and how to build relationships with people surrounding them. People who read moral will be graver than these who behave without correct principles and can’t deal with different relationships.
Reading logic makes people master the rules of thinking, dealing with different things and exploring objective reality. People who read logic will be more contend to have clear ideas, mater the principles of objective truth than these who don’t act according to rules.
Different kinds of reading materials play different roles in making a full man. People should get into different reading fields and train themselves to become a comprehensive talent. Reading will do good to one’s physical health according to some reading materials of physical training. What’s more important, reading promotes the development of logic thinking and morality. People can be called a full man on condition that they have fine quality, delicate self-cultivation and strict morality. Try to read extensively and become a full man.
All in all, reading books of certain field brings certain knowledge and ability we lack. Of Studies gives us the method of reading books and being a full man.
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