“Of Ambition” by Bacon, Summary and Critical Appreciation

Introduction to the Essay “Of Ambition”

Francis Bacon, a man of versatile genius, excelled not only in his knowledge of history, legends, and ancient philosophies but also in his keen observation of society and human behaviour. His wide experience gave him a profound understanding of human conduct and psychology, which shape a person’s character for good or ill. The essay “Of Ambition” reflects this deep insight into human nature.

In “Of Ambition”, Bacon examines the temperament of ambitious individuals—acknowledging their energy and determination in pursuing their goals, yet cautioning that unchecked ambition can become dangerous, especially when thwarted. He therefore emphasizes the need to regulate and guide such people with care. Since ambitious men differ in character, Bacon suggests that they must be dealt with in different ways.

Summary of the Essay “Of Ambition”:

Nature of Ambition in Man

Bacon tells that excessive desire for power, wealth or name in a man is that state of mind which makes man active and enthusiastic. He is always prompt and quick in performing his duties until someone checks him. But if anybody tries to check him or put restraints in the work of this ambitious man, he becomes angry and dangerous. He is never troublesome and interfering till he is free to get opportunities for his higher progress but if they are checked in their efforts to grow stronger, they are dissatisfied and create difficulties for the rulers and the public in general. So, it is good for the King to behave tactfully with these people and to offer them the opportunities their promotion. Sometimes it is difficult but it is better for a King not to employ such ambitious people at all because if they fail in their ambitions they are hostile and destroy the King and the kingdom both.

Utility of Ambitious Men:

Sometimes it is not proper to employ the ambitious people until it is very necessary. Still before employing them, we must consider if the circumstances need him very much. A good commander should be employed in war time even if he is ambitious because his utility at this time is greater than his faults. If a soldier has no ambition for promotion, he will never take any risk.

Moreover, ambitious people work like a safety value for a King when the King is in danger or the people become hostile to him. At this time, no other man can take danger on his behalf except those who are blind in their craze for ambition. Just as a blinded dove flies higher and higher till it is utterly tired, they are also blind to danger and defamation for a particular work. Moreover, ambitious men can be used for pulling down those who become more powerful than the King. Tiberius used Macro to bring down Sejanus and was promoted as commander.

Control of Ambitious People:

In certain cases, the use of ambitious people is very necessary but it is necessary to know how they should be controlled otherwise they may become dangerous for the King and the common men both. The persons of lower birth are not so dangerous as those of noble birth. The newly promoted ambitious people are less dangerous than those who have been in power for long. Some people consider it a weakness of King to show particular favour to certain persons.

The best way to curb the power of ambitious people is to distribute reward and punishment carefully. Another method is to place equally ambitious people by them and thus their power will be neutralised. There should be neutral advisors just as a heavy material is placed at the bottom to maintain the balance of a ship otherwise there is a danger of chaos in the state.

The King should encourage the people of low birth who will create trouble for ambitious people. If the ambitious people are bold, they may act on their plan against the King and become dangerous for him. To remove the ambitious people from their position, it is not safe to dismiss them suddenly but keep them in the state of uncertainty about their future. For this, sometimes the King should favour them and sometimes strongly disapprove them.

Harmless and Harmful Forms of Ambition:

Those ambitious people who assert themselves in more important things are less harmful than those who show their superiority even in small things. This habit of looking into everything personally creates confusion and spoils the work. But that ambitious man who works for the sake of promotion is less dangerous than that who has large number of followers. It is good to try to get eminence among great men. But if a man tries to get promotion among unimportant people, it shows great decline of the country.

The True Advantage of Honourable Position: 

The position of honour has three advantages. He is in a position of advantage to do good for others because he has access to the King and important persons and at the same time he can develop himself also. An ambitious man who is ready to do good to others in his high position, is a really good man. The King who recognises the virtue of such man is wise. In general the King should choose those people as ministers who are ready to perform their duty instead of their own promotion and have love for their work. Such a man should not make a show of his work.

Critical Appreciation of the Essay “Of Ambition”:

Introduction: 

As a worldly wise man, Bacon still stands unique among the great English essayists. His essays are full of dispersed meditation in which the vast knowledge and worldly experiences have been finely condensed. This essay “Of Ambition” is also a remarkable in this field. Here Bacon has tried to bring about a balance in the behaviour of a King and an ambitious man. As in other essays, here also he has taken almost all the aspects of an ambitious man, the advantages and dangers from him and how a king can use them for his favour, But Bacon does not hesitate in making direct remarks as he says that the ambitious people are like blind men whose only aim is to attain their ambition. He then directly denies that such people are better not employed. This openness and fearlessness of statement, particularly in this essay makes it charming as well as appealing. 

Human Psychology: 

The essay “Of Ambition” is certainly a deep study in human psychology which is another nature in him . Ambition is natural in every man and till he is able to realise his ambitions, he is satisfied and well content. He is not concerned with anybody but as soon as his ambitions are thwarted or remain unrealised he becomes dangerous. This is a very true human psychology and thus Bacon displays his keen understanding of human nature which his wide interaction with men and the world gave him. He also possesses an understanding of the working of the Kings and princes and dangers to them. There is hardly any King left in the world and those who have hardly any power or authority in their hands, but the wisdom expressed by Bacon can be put to practice in the political life. 

Classification: 

Bacon’s wisdom enables him to classify the ambitious men. He tells that if the ambitious man attains his desires, he is not dangerous at all. So, the Kings should try not to create any hindrance in the path of their progress. As long as they are successful they are only a little troublesome but never dangerous but the other class of ambitious men is of those who are frustrated and disappointed. Such men are most dangerous to the King and the state as well. They look at others with envy and are more pleased when others fall or lose something. Such men are to be taken care of and a distance should be maintained from them. 

Utility: 

Bacon advises that those ambitious people who are disappointed and are considered dangerous may still be used for better in times of need but they should be employed even then only in great emergency. Their ambitions should be aroused in them once more. In times of war, a good commander may be employed even if he is ambitious because his skill is more useful than his faults. They can also be employed as shields to the King and also as scapegoats when the King intends to perform some dangerous or unpopular work because they always work blindly and care only for their rising high. They are most useful when the King has to displace some other man who is becoming powerful and influential. 

Methods to Control: 

In spite of all this, the King must be very careful of these ambitious people and should take every step to keep them under control and check. The people of low birth should be raised to higher position and power because they are never dangerous unlike the men of noble birth. The men of harsh nature are better and they should be promoted as the newly raised men are not so dangerous as those who have enjoyed high position and power for a long time.

The King should have some favourites and distribute reward and punishment through them and thus ambitious people will be kept under control. Various ambitious men should be kept to maintain balance. He should alternate his favours – sometimes pleased and sometimes disapprove. This will keep the ambitious man in the state of uncertainty about his future. 

The Reasons of Ambition: 

Bacon tells that there are reasons which inspire ambitions in man and he grows ambitious. The one is that after the attainment of high position they can do good to others. It is the way to gain access to the King and the people in authority. This will also help them a lot to improve their own fortunes. Bacon now tells that the best ambition is that of doing good to others. Such ambition is honest and a wise prince should find out such people and appoint them to high places. The King should also distinguish between those who are sincere and conscious persons and those who work only for show, to get advancement. They are not dutiful and so they cannot be helpful to the King.

Utilitarian Approach: 

Bacon’s approach to the subject in this essay also is quite practical and utilitarian. He nowhere professes to be an idealist either morally or politically. His advice to the Kings is quite practical and he tells them the easy way to their success. He tells how such ambitious and dangerous people can be put to his own benefit and that of the state. There is lofty disregard of any moral consideration in his opinion about the handling of high ambitious officials. The ambitious man works only for his good and promotion and it is this weakness that the Kings can exploit in their benefit. This is purely practical and utilitarian attitude devoid of any touch of morality. 

Language and Style: 

The essay “Of Ambition” is comparatively quite easy to understand and practically there is no confusion of thought, nor ambiguity of language. The absence of Latin phrases and quotations is peculiar and so even the ordinary readers do not face any difficulty to understand it. He has not used many allusions to prove his point of view except that of Tiberius Marco and Sejanus. But even this is very short and clear. However, there is the use of illustrations, similes and metaphors. In the beginning of the essay “Of Ambition”, he used the simile of humour to compare ambition with choler.

Moreover, he compares an ambitious man to the blinded dove to show that such a man is blind to everything except his ambitions. But the condensation of language is easily perceived. Large ideas have been compressed into minimum possible words and so many sentences are written in the style of a proverb. This is why at some places ambiguity enters and creates confusion among the readers. Some expressions can be understood only when we read the notes provided by the editors. This is created in his contrary statements. So, this is one essay in which excessive condensation sometimes results in confusion and ambiguity. 

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