Of Great Place by Francis Bacon Summary

Of Great Place Summary:

Bacon opens the essay by arguing that men at the great place, the authoritative place, is a servant of three things: the servant of the state, the servant of fame (popularity), and the servant of business. Hence, such people don’t have any sort of freedom at all. They don’t have a liberty to something for themselves, nor they can act freely, even they can’t spend their time with their own choice. Bacon says that it is a strange desire of a man to attain some power by losing his liberty. Bacon argues that man, in order to attain power over another man, loses power over himself. He is the puppet in the hands of authority.

Bacon, being realistic with an exceptional vision to see things, argues about how man reach the high position in politics. He says that if a man wants to reach a great place, he has to do certain things that are not morally right. It is through indignities that man comes to dignities. One has to corrupt himself and should compromise over certain things to make oneself a great man. But this position is not permanent resulting in a downfall. Bacon quotes the Latin proverb as “Cum non sis qui fueris, non esse cur velis vivere”, which means that whenever a man realizes that he is no more the man he used to be, his motivation to live depressing and his brawl to persist ensues.

Moreover, Bacon comments on the man’s nature that no matter how great a man becomes, he seeks other’s opinion to become happy. They can’t judge themselves, however, they think themselves as what others think of them just to be on the top of hotlist.

Bacon writes that the great people are never willing to find faults in themselves. It is impossible for a man with money and power to see his faults, however, when it comes to grieving, they always try to cure it with money as soon as possible. Moreover, he says that the great men, being busy with their affairs and business, are strangers to themselves. They don’t have enough time to think about themselves, do not take care of their health. The only thing they care about is money and power until they have lost their health and then realizes that they too are humans.

Bacon, at this point, acts as a philosopher and writes that a man, in power and authoritative place, has the opportunity to do both, good and evil. Though evil is a curse, however, to do good things is more aspiring and will satisfy the conscience of a man. Bacon argues about the good thoughts and good dreams and says that good thoughts are better as they can easily be shaped into practical form. Furthermore, a man, in order to take reward from God, should do some good actions.

Bacon suggests that one should not only analyze his actions but should also analyze the actions of other people in his surroundings as well. One should take examples from his surrounding in order to know what is good and what is bad. A man, by seeing the best in others, should strictly judge himself. By comparing himself to others, he must find out his shortcomings. Likewise, he must also analyze the examples of those who carry evil with them. By this, he will be able to know what to avoid. Moreover, a man should consult his past experiences to learn good things from them to seek a better future.

He, furthermore, suggests the one should preserve the dignity of his office by occupying his place properly, not by challenging others. Likewise, one should also preserve the dignity of lower offices by permitting others to do their jobs without interfering. Moreover, one should always consult others and consider their advice whenever they need, similarly, one should not refuse the help whenever other offers.

Bacon, the great philosopher of the time, illustrates the three vices of great place: corruption, delays, roughness, and facility. He suggests that to avoid delays, a man should be punctual and appoint time. Likewise, for avoiding corruption, it is necessary that one should not only bind his and his servant’s hands from taking but also binds the suitor’s hands from the offering; moreover, tortures not only the bribers but also the bribes. Similarly, roughness in the attitude of an authoritative man makes his workers discontent. He should have kind behavior along with fear in other’s heart. Lastly, for the facility, Bacon calls it worst that bribery and advises that one shouldn’t go after the break.

Bacon, at the end of the essay, argues that a great place shows the true nature of a man. It reflects how he is. Some people prove to be better while others the worst. There are some people whom people think to be best for the empire when they are not emperors, that is by attaining power, they proved to be worst, however, Vespasanus was the only emperor, who by attaining power, changed for better. It is often observed that a man when sits in a great place becomes another man, however, he should learn to respect others as well. A man needs other to rise at a great place, but once he is elected, he should balance himself to represent the whole society.