Of Boldness, Francis Bacon: Summary, Analysis & Themes

Summary of "Of Boldness" by Francis Bacon In "Of Boldness," Francis Bacon explores the nature and role of boldness in both public and private life. He compares boldness to the role of action in oratory, where it overshadows more intellectual elements such as invention and elocution . Bacon criticizes boldness as being more a product of ignorance and baseness than wisdom, though it can have great influence, especially among those with weak judgment. Boldness, though it can achieve short-term success, tends to fail in the long run, being unreliable and unsustainable . Bold individuals are compared to mountebanks (fraudulent healers) who promise much but have no real foundation in skill or knowledge. Despite its shortcomings, boldness can be useful in execution , though it should not be trusted in counsel , where the ability to foresee dangers is important. Analysis of "Of Boldness" by Francis Bacon Bacon delves into the paradox of boldness, where it holds superficial p…