The Passions of the Mind in General

children, who are not capable subjects of moral virtues) but because it is the seed of virtue, or a spur to virtue, or a bridle from vice: or a way, preparation, or disposition unto an honest virtuous life. And therefore Plato in protagor. Plato said that justice and shamefacedness were the gifts of Jupiter. This natural foundation of honesty, other nations baptize with the name of simplicity, which they understand not in such a way as it resembles a virtue and borders upon sincerity and upright dealing, but rather as a vice bending toward stupidity and lack of knowledge. The common sort of Spaniards and Italians, censuring our inclinations with an erroneous judgment, account that a passion of ignorance which, in very deed, is the first step unto prudence, esteeming those foolishly unwary whom they ought to have reputed rather virtuously wise.

The second cause is Education; for prudence and policy are won by experience, experience by practice, practice by conversation, and conversation by communication with people, which in cities is better attained than in villages, and in cities of greater commerce and resort than in cities of lesser repair. This we try by the common consent of all men, who acknowledge the inhabitants of sea-towns to be more crafty than the rural colonies, and therefore islanders are judged most crafty of all; yet my meaning is always ceteris paribus, because, as some islanders have little trade, so some cities have no great resort. The nature of men's wits is such that one greatly whets and polishes another; for as their faces are various, so their inventions, fetches, sleights, and judgments are diverse.

Wherefore those that have great commerce with men, either they themselves, or else who see the various dealings and practices of others, cannot but in time greatly perfect their own judgments and understandings: this we may daily perceive in our own country, wherein our northern and Welshmen, when they come to London, are very simple and unwary; but afterwards, by conversing a while and by the experience of other men's behaviors, they become wonderfully wise and judicious. The Italians, therefore, and Spaniards, disdaining greatly to dwell long in the country and betaking themselves almost wholly unto cities, become very nimble in the managing of all affairs by a continual conversation, even from their youth.