Of Studies
by Francis Bacon (1625)
STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in private- ness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and per- haps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning² by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; ¹ and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would ² be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy ³ things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cun- ning, to seem to know that ⁴ he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics sub- tile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores.⁵ Nay there is no stond⁶ or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought ⁷ out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; ¹ shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathemathics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores.² If he be not apt to beat³ over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.
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Word Meaning (Latin → English → Bengali):
(Latin Word ) Abeunt
( English Meaning) pass into / turn into / become
( Bengali Meaning) রূপান্তরিত হয় / পরিণত হয়
(Latin Word ) Studia
( English Meaning) studies / learning / pursuits
( Bengali Meaning) অধ্যয়ন / জ্ঞানচর্চা / শিক্ষালাভ
(Latin Word ) in
( English Meaning) into / in
( Bengali Meaning) মধ্যে / তে
(Latin Word ) Mores
( English Meaning) character / habits / manners
( Bengali Meaning) চরিত্র / অভ্যাস / আচরণ
💬 Full English Meaning:
“Studies pass into and influence manners.”
👉 অর্থাৎ, What we study gradually shapes our habits, manners, and character.
🪶 বাংলা অর্থ (সাহিত্যিক ব্যাখ্যা):
“অধ্যয়ন মানুষের স্বভাব ও আচরণে রূপ নেয়।”
অর্থাৎ, যেভাবে আমরা অধ্যয়ন করি ও যা শিখি, তা ধীরে ধীরে আমাদের চরিত্র, ব্যবহার, ও জীবনের অভ্যাসে প্রতিফলিত হয়।
📜 Origin:
Language: Latin
Origin: From Ovid’s “Heroides” (a collection of letters in verse form by the Roman poet Ovid, c. 1st century BCE).
Used by: Francis Bacon in “Of Studies” to show that learning and study have a moral and transforming effect on human nature.
🌟 In Short:
“Abeunt studia in mores” means — Our studies become part of our character.
বাংলা অনুবাদ: “অধ্যয়নই মানুষের চরিত্রে রূপ নেয়।”
📘 Important Latin Quotes from “Of Studies” — Exam Notes
Latin Quote : Abeunt studia in mores
English Meaning : Studies pass into manners
Bengali Meaning / Explanation: অধ্যয়ন মানুষের চরিত্রে রূপ নেয়। যা আমরা শিখি, তা আমাদের অভ্যাস, আচরণ ও চরিত্রে প্রতিফলিত হয়।
Key Point: Study shapes habits & morals
Cymini sectores
Splitters of hairs
অত্যন্ত সূক্ষ্ম বা বিস্তারিত বিশ্লেষণকারী
Use in context: studying philosophy or logic improves precision of thought
Stond or impediment in wit
No barrier in intellect
মনের কোনো প্রতিবন্ধকতা বা সীমাবদ্ধতা নেই যা যথাযথ অধ্যয়ন দ্বারা ঠিক করা যায়
Mind defects can be corrected by suitable study
Tasted, swallowed, chewed & digested (books)
Different ways of reading books
কিছু বই শুধু পড়া যায়, কিছু পুরো পড়া যায়, কিছু গভীরভাবে বিশ্লেষণ করে পড়তে হয়
Prioritize reading: light → medium → deep
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; writing an exact man
Reading gives knowledge; discussion gives readiness; writing makes precision
পড়া মানুষকে জ্ঞানী করে, আলোচনা তৎপর করে, লেখা নিখুঁত করে
Balanced development: read, discuss, write
No stood or impediment in the wit
Mind defects can be improved by studies
যেমন শরীরের ব্যায়াম রোগ দূর করে, তেমনই মনের দুর্বলতা অধ্যয়ন দ্বারা দূর হয়
Example: wandering mind → mathematics, weak reasoning → logic
🌟 Short Notes for Exam:
Latin quotes are mostly moral / intellectual principles.
Focus on: how study shapes mind, behavior, and habits.
Examples:
Wandering mind → study mathematics
Weak judgment → study philosophy or law
Remember key phrase:
“Abeunt studia in mores” → Studies shape character.
Balanced study: reading + discussion + writing → complete intellectual development.
Study Notes on “Of Studies” — Francis Bacon (1625)
Author & Year
Written by Francis Bacon in 1625.
লেখক ফ্রান্সিস বেকন; প্রকাশিত ১৬২৫ সালে।
Main Theme
Importance and right use of studies in human life.
জীবনে অধ্যয়নের গুরুত্ব ও সঠিক প্রয়োগ।
Purpose of Studies
Studies serve for delight, ornament, and ability.
অধ্যয়নের তিন উদ্দেশ্য — আনন্দ, অলংকার, যোগ্যতা।
Delight
Gives pleasure in private and leisure time.
নিঃসঙ্গ ও অবসর সময়ে আনন্দ দেয়।
Ornament
Improves one’s speech and conversation.
আলাপ-আলোচনায় মানুষকে রুচিশীল করে।
Ability
Develops sound judgment in work and affairs.
কাজ ও সিদ্ধান্তে দক্ষতা আনে।
Warning about misuse
Too much study makes one lazy; using it for show is vanity; following books blindly is foolishness.
অতিরিক্ত পড়া আলস্য আনে; দেখানোর জন্য পড়া ভণ্ডামি; বইয়ের নিয়মে অন্ধভাবে চলা বোকামি।
Relation between Study & Experience
Studies perfect nature, and are perfected by experience.
অধ্যয়ন মানুষকে পরিপূর্ণ করে, অভিজ্ঞতা অধ্যয়নকে নিখুঁত করে।
Types of Reading
Some books are to be tasted, some swallowed, and a few chewed and digested.
কিছু বই শুধু একটু পড়া যায়, কিছু পুরো পড়া যায়, আর কিছু গভীর মনোযোগে পড়তে হয়।
Benefits of Reading, Speaking & Writing
Reading makes a full man; Conference (discussion) a ready man; Writing an exact man.
পড়া মানুষকে জ্ঞানী করে; আলোচনা তৎপর করে; লেখা নিখুঁত করে।
Different Studies Improve Mind
History makes wise; Poetry witty; Mathematics subtle; Natural Philosophy deep; Morals grave; Logic and Rhetoric able to contend.
ইতিহাস জ্ঞানী করে; কবিতা বুদ্ধিদীপ্ত করে; গণিত সূক্ষ্মবোধ দেয়; প্রকৃতিবিজ্ঞান গভীর চিন্তা শেখায়; নীতি দর্শন গম্ভীর করে; যুক্তিবিদ্যা ও অলঙ্কার বিতর্কে দক্ষ করে।
Defects of Mind & Remedies
Each mental defect can be cured by proper study.
মনের প্রতিটি ত্রুটির নির্দিষ্ট অধ্যয়ন আছে।
Examples
Wandering mind → Mathematics; Poor reasoning → Philosophy/Logic; Weak memory → Law cases.
মনোযোগহীন → গণিত; যুক্তিহীন → দর্শন বা যুক্তিবিদ্যা; স্মৃতিশক্তি দুর্বল → আইন অধ্যয়ন।
Moral / Message
Study not just to know, but to apply wisely in life.
শুধু জানার জন্য নয়, জীবনে প্রয়োগের জন্য অধ্যয়ন করতে হবে।
