洞察山谷中的謬誤、彷徨、迷霧與風暴更令人歡欣。真理已滲透進我們的生活。
Francis Bacon on Truth
Francis Bacon
In this famous essay； first published in 1625； Francis Bacon declares that truth in the philosophical and theological sense； as well as honesty in the civil1 business sense； are the “sovereign2 good of human nature。”
Truth； which only doth judge itself； teacheth that the inquiry of truth； which is the love…making or wooing of it； the knowledge of truth； which is the presence of it； and the belief of truth； which is the enjoying of it； is the sovereign good of human nature。 The first creature of God； in the works of the days； was the light of the sense； the last was the light of reason； and his sabbath3 work ever since is the illumination of his Spirit。 First he breathed light upon the face of the matter or chaos； then he breathed light into the face of man； and still he breatheth and inspireth light into the face of his chosen。 The poet that beautified the sect that was otherwise inferior to the rest saith yet excellently well： It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore and to see ships tossed upon the sea； a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below； but no pleasure is parable to the standing upon the vantage4 ground of truth （a hill not to be manded； and where the air is always clear and serene）； and to see the errors and wanderings and mists and tempests in the vale below； so always that this prospect be with pity； and no