of wisdo for a an’s self
论自私者的聪明
francis ban/弗朗西斯·培根
an ant is a wise creature for itself，but it is a shrewd thg an orchard or gardenand certaly n that are great lovers of theselves waste the publicdivide with rean beeen selflove and ciety；and be true to thyself，as thou be not false to others；specially to thy kg and untryit is a poor centre of a an‘s actions，hiselfit is right earthfor that only stands fast upon his own centre；whereas all thgs that have affity with the heavens，ove upon the centre of another，which they benefitthe referrg of all to a an’s self is ore tolerable a vereign prce；becae theselves are not only theselves，but their good and evil is at the peril of the public fortunebut it is a desperate evil a servant to a prce，or a citizen a republicfor whatever affairs pass such a an‘s hands，he crooketh the to his own ends；which t needs to be often eentric to the ends of his aster or statetherefore let prces，or states，choose such servants as have not this ark；except they an their service should be ade but the aesry
that which aketh the effect ore pernicio is that all proportion is lostit were disproportion enough for the servant’s good to be preferred before the aster‘s；but yet it is a greater extre，when a little good of the servant shall carry thgs agast a great good of the aster’sand yet that is the case of bad officers，treasurers，abassadors，nerals，and other false and rrupt servants；which set a bias upon their bowl，of their own petty ends and envies，to the overthrow of their aster‘s great and iportant affairs
蚂蚁本是聪明灵巧的小动物，却也是果园菜圃里的害虫。因而十分自恋的人确有可能会损害公众。用理智将自爱与爱人区分开吧！忠实于己，不要欺骗别人；尤其不要欺君叛国。人类行为卑劣的中心，就是自我。正如地球，它只以自我为中心。而与日月五行亲近的东西，也就有其他的中心，并从中得利。凡事从自我出发，君主这样做倒是可以容忍，因为君王是一己之主，且他们的祸福关系着公众的福祉。但臣仆之于君主，人民之于国家也是这样的话，就罪过之极了，因为任何事一经此种人的手，他都要为一己之私服务，经常背离君主、君国的目标行事。所以君王、国家从来都不会挑选有这种弊病的奴仆，除非他们认为所需要的服务无关紧要。更糟的是，当比例失调时，奴仆利益优先于主人，已经有失体统了；而如果奴仆的微薄私利牵制影响了主人的利益，就更是无法无天了。然而，卑劣的军官、会计、使者和将军等贪官污吏之事，使球偏离轨道，他们为了自己的微利，出于妒忌，将主人的宏绩伟业毁于一旦。