UNIT – I PROSE BACON’S OF AMBITION
UNIT – I PROSE
BACON’S OF AMBITION
OF
AMBITION
Ambition
is like choler; which is an humor that maketh men active,
earnest,
full of alacrity, and stirring, if it be not stopped. But if it be
stopped,
and cannot have his way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign
and
venomous. So ambitious men, if they find the way open for their
rising,
and still get forward, they are rather busy than dangerous; but if
they
be checked in their desires, they become secretly discontent, and
look
upon men and matters with an evil eye, and are best pleased, when
things
go backward; which is the worst property in a servant of a prince,
or
state. Therefore it is good for princes, if they use ambitious men, to
handle
it, so as they be still progressive and not retrograde; which,
because
it cannot be without inconvenience, it is good not to use such
natures
at all. For if they rise not with their service, they will take order,
to
make their service fall with them. But since we have said, it were good
not
to use men of ambitious natures, except it be upon necessity, it is fit
we
speak, in what cases they are of necessity. Good commanders in the
wars
must be taken, be they never so ambitious; for the use of their
service,
dispenseth with the rest; and to take a soldier without ambition,
is
to pull off his spurs. There is also great use of ambitious men, in being
screens
to princes in matters of danger and envy; for no man will take
that
part, except he be like a seeled dove, that mounts and mounts,
because
he cannot see about him. There is use also of ambitious men, in
pulling
down the greatness of any subject that over–tops; as Tiberius
used
Marco, in the pulling down of Sejanus. Since, therefore, they must
be
used in such cases, there resteth to speak, how they are to be bridled,
that
they may be less dangerous. There is less danger of them, if they be
of
mean birth, than if they be noble; and if they be rather harsh of nature,
than
gracious and popular: and if they be rather new raised, than grown
cunning,
and fortified, in their greatness. It is counted by some, a
weakness
in princes, to have favorites; but it is, of all others, the best
remedy
against ambitious great–ones. For when the way of pleasuring,
and
displeasuring, lieth by the favorite, it is impossible any other should
be
overgreat. Another means to curb them, is to balance them by others,
as
proud as they. But then there must be some middle counsellors, to
keep
things steady; for without that ballast, the ship will roll too much. At
the
least, a prince may animate and inure some meaner persons, to be as
it
were scourges, to ambitions men. As for the having of them obnoxious
to
ruin; if they be of fearful natures, it may do well; but if they be stout
and
daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous. As for
the
pulling of them down, if the affairs require it, and that it may not be
done
with safety suddenly, the only way is the interchange, continually, of
favors
and disgraces; whereby they may not know what to expect, and be,
as
it were, in a wood. Of ambitions, it is less harmful, the ambition to
prevail
in great things, than that other, to appear in every thing; for that
breeds
confusion, and mars business. But yet it is less danger, to have an
ambitious
man stirring in business, than great in dependences. He that
seeketh
to be eminent amongst able men, hath a great task; but that is
ever
good for the public. But he, that plots to be the only figure amongst
ciphers,
is the decay of a whole age. Honor hath three things in it: the
vantage
ground to do good; the approach to kings and principal persons;
and
the raising of a man’s own fortunes. He that hath the best of these
intentions,
when he aspireth, is an honest man; and that prince, that can
discern
of these intentions in another that aspireth, is a wise prince.
Generally,
let princes and states choose such ministers, as are more
sensible
of duty than of rising; and such as love business rather upon
conscience,
than upon bravery, and let them discern a busy nature, from
a willing mind.
**********
Detailed Summary
🔹 Ambition Compared to Choler
- Bacon compares
ambition to choler (a bodily humor):
- When unchecked,
ambition energizes and motivates.
- When frustrated,
it turns bitter and destructive.
- Ambitious
men are busy, not dangerous, if they rise steadily.
- If
blocked, they become secretly discontented and harmful.
🔹 Managing Ambitious Servants
- Ambition
is dangerous in a servant to a prince or state when:
- They
rejoice at setbacks
- They
cause instability to benefit themselves.
- Princes
should avoid using ambitious men unless necessary.
🔹 When Ambitious Men Are Necessary
- They
are essential in:
- Military
command — as ambition drives valor.
- Acting
as screens for royal envy or danger.
- Bringing
down over-mighty subjects, like Tiberius used Macro to destroy
Sejanus.
🔹 How to Curb Ambitious Men
- Safer
if:
- Of low
birth (less support)
- Harsh, not gracious/popular
- Newly
risen, not deeply rooted in power
- Favorites help
control ambition by channeling access to royal favor.
🔹 Strategies for Balance
- Counterbalance
ambitious men with rivals.
- Keep middle
counsellors to steady the court.
- Use meaner
persons as scourges (to check their power).
- Mix favors
and disgraces to keep them uncertain — like being lost in a wood.
🔹 Types of Ambition
- Less
dangerous: Wanting to achieve great deeds
- More
dangerous: Wanting to appear in everything — it causes confusion.
🔹 Ambition Among the Able
- One who
competes among strong peers may benefit the public.
- But one
who wants to shine among ciphers (nobodies) harms the age.
🔹 Honor and Intentions
- Three
elements in honor:
- Opportunity
to do good
- Access
to powerful people
- Advancement
of personal fortune
- An
honest man aspires to do good.
- A wise
prince can recognize such intentions.
🔹 Final Advice to Princes
- Choose
ministers who:
- Value duty
over ambition
- Love
business from conscience, not vanity
- Are willing,
not merely busy
·
1. Bacon compares ambition to which bodily humor?
A) Melancholy
B) Phlegm
C) Choler ✅
D) Blood
➡️ “Ambition is like choler…”
·
2. According to Bacon, choler makes men:
A) Lazy
B) Suspicious
C) Active and energetic ✅
D) Sick and weak
➡️ “…maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity,
and stirring…”
·
3. If ambition is suppressed, it becomes:
A) Rational
B) Useless
C) Adust and venomous ✅
D) Sleepy
➡️ “It becometh adust, and thereby malign and
venomous.”
·
4. Ambitious men who rise steadily are described
as:
A) Idle
B) Dangerous
C) Merely busy ✅
D) Noble
➡️ “…they are rather busy than dangerous…”
·
5. When ambitious men are blocked in their
progress, they become:
A) More obedient
B) Grateful
C) Secretly discontent ✅
D) Silent observers
➡️ “…they become secretly discontent…”
·
6. Ambitious men are happiest when:
A) Things go backward ✅
B) They are ignored
C) They are praised
D) They receive honors
➡️ “…best pleased, when things go backward…”
·
7. Bacon says this is the worst trait in a:
A) Poet
B) Servant of a prince or state ✅
C) Merchant
D) Judge
➡️ “…the worst property in a servant of a prince
or state.”
·
8. Princes should avoid ambitious men unless:
A) They are humble
B) They are trained
C) Absolutely necessary ✅
D) Chosen by counselors
➡️ “…except it be upon necessity…”
·
9. If ambitious men don’t rise with their service,
they will:
A) Resign
B) Serve quietly
C) Cause their service to fall ✅
D) Request reassignment
➡️ “…make their service fall with them.”
·
10. In military matters, ambitious men are:
A) Worthless
B) Acceptable ✅
C) Cowardly
D) Distracting
➡️ “Good commanders in the wars must be taken, be
they never so ambitious…”
·
11. A soldier without ambition is compared to:
A) A toothless lion
B) A blind man
C) A rider without a horse
D) A knight without spurs ✅
➡️ “…to take a soldier without ambition, is to
pull off his spurs.”
·
12. One use of ambitious men is to act as:
A) Political writers
B) Private counselors
C) Screens for princes ✅
D) Church authorities
➡️ “…in being screens to princes in matters of
danger and envy…”
·
13. A “seeled dove” is used as a metaphor for a man
who:
A) Flies with vision
B) Seeks liberty
C) Cannot see around him but rises blindly ✅
D) Escapes danger
➡️ “…that mounts and mounts, because he cannot see
about him.”
·
14. Tiberius used Macro to pull down:
A) Brutus
B) Augustus
C) Sejanus ✅
D) Nero
➡️ “…as Tiberius used Macro, in the pulling down
of Sejanus.”
·
15. Ambitious men are less dangerous when they are:
A) Of noble birth
B) Popular
C) Of mean birth ✅
D) Long-serving officials
➡️ “…if they be of mean birth…”
·
16. Another safer quality in ambitious men is
being:
A) Gracious and mild
B) Harsh of nature ✅
C) Very social
D) Fluent in language
➡️ “…rather harsh of nature, than gracious and
popular…”
·
17. Ambitious men who are newly raised are safer
than those who are:
A) Old
B) Clever
C) Fortified in greatness ✅
D) Loyal
➡️ “…new raised, than grown cunning and
fortified…”
·
18. Some consider having favorites a weakness in
princes, but Bacon calls it:
A) Dangerous
B) The best remedy ✅
C) A luxury
D) Foolish
➡️ “…but it is, of all others, the best remedy
against ambitious great–ones.”
·
19. Favorites prevent others from:
A) Growing rich
B) Reaching the king
C) Becoming overgreat ✅
D) Advising properly
➡️ “…impossible any other should be overgreat.”
·
20. Another way to curb ambitious men is by:
A) Public disgrace
B) Ignoring them
C) Balancing them with equally proud rivals ✅
D) Promoting them quickly
➡️ “…to balance them by others, as proud as they.”
·
21. To keep the court steady, there must be:
A) Flatterers
B) Middle counsellors ✅
C) Soldiers
D) Favorites only
➡️ “…there must be some middle counsellors, to
keep things steady…”
·
22. Without middle counsellors, the ship (i.e.,
court) will:
A) Be peaceful
B) Sail easily
C) Roll too much ✅
D) Sink
➡️ “…without that ballast, the ship will roll too
much.”
·
23. Meaner persons may be used as:
A) Watchmen
B) Secretaries
C) Scourges to ambitious men ✅
D) Treasurers
➡️ “…to be as it were scourges, to ambitious men.”
·
24. If ambitious men are fearful by nature, being
vulnerable to ruin will:
A) Empower them
B) Make them honest
C) Work well ✅
D) Cause rebellion
➡️ “…if they be of fearful natures, it may do
well…”
·
25. But if ambitious men are bold and daring,
making them vulnerable will:
A) Strengthen them
B) Prove dangerous ✅
C) Make them humble
D) Encourage honesty
➡️ “…may precipitate their designs, and prove
dangerous.”
·
26. What is Bacon’s suggested method if ambitious
men cannot be removed safely?
A) Promote them to higher office
B) Punish them secretly
C) Alternate favors and disgraces ✅
D) Confine them to remote regions
➡️ “…the only way is the interchange, continually,
of favors and disgraces…”
·
27. The goal of mixing favors and disgraces is to:
A) Create fear
B) Test loyalty
C) Keep them confused and unsure ✅
D) Increase dependence
➡️ “…that they may not know what to expect, and
be, as it were, in a wood.”
·
28. Being “in a wood” metaphorically means:
A) Hidden from the king
B) Surrounded by enemies
C) Lost or uncertain ✅
D) Ready for execution
➡️ It implies disorientation, used as a strategy.
·
29. Which form of ambition is less harmful,
according to Bacon?
A) To dominate rivals
B) To appear in everything
C) To prevail in great things ✅
D) To flatter kings
➡️ “…less harmful, the ambition to prevail in
great things…”
·
30. The desire to appear in everything causes:
A) Confusion and disruption ✅
B) Stability and honor
C) Balance and harmony
D) Spiritual growth
➡️ “…for that breeds confusion, and mars
business.”
·
31. It is better to have an ambitious man active in
business than:
A) Retired in silence
B) Great in dependences ✅
C) In prison
D) Speaking publicly
➡️ “…less danger, to have an ambitious man
stirring in business, than great in dependences.”
·
32. What does Bacon mean by “great in dependences”?
A) Relying on his servants
B) Having many people depending on him ✅
C) Depending on law
D) Depending on religion
➡️ A man with many dependents can build dangerous
power bases.
·
33. A man who seeks to be eminent among able men
faces:
A) No resistance
B) Great challenge ✅
C) Easy success
D) Popular rejection
➡️ “…a great task; but that is ever good for the
public.”
·
34. Competing with able men benefits:
A) Personal pride
B) The crown
C) The public ✅
D) The church
➡️ Bacon sees this form of ambition as productive.
·
35. A man who wishes to be “the only figure among
ciphers” is:
A) Noble
B) Harmful to his age ✅
C) Useful to society
D) A silent observer
➡️ “…is the decay of a whole age.”
·
36. In this metaphor, “ciphers” refers to:
A) Secret codes
B) Money handlers
C) Worthless or inactive people ✅
D) Monks
➡️ The ambitious man stands out among nobodies.
·
37. Bacon lists how many components of honor?
A) Two
B) Three ✅
C) Five
D) Four
➡️ “…honor hath three things in it…”
·
38. One part of honor is having the vantage ground
to:
A) Make war
B) Do good ✅
C) Praise kings
D) Protect family
➡️ “…the vantage ground to do good…”
·
39. Another part of honor is the approach to:
A) Soldiers
B) God
C) Kings and principal persons ✅
D) Courts
➡️ “…the approach to kings and principal persons…”
·
40. The third part of honor is the ability to:
A) Influence public opinion
B) Raise one’s fortune ✅
C) Teach others
D) Lead armies
➡️ “…the raising of a man’s own fortunes.”
·
41. A man is honest in his ambition if he seeks
primarily to:
A) Get revenge
B) Do good ✅
C) Please crowds
D) Earn wealth
➡️ “…he that hath the best of these intentions… is
an honest man.”
·
42. A prince who can discern others’ ambitions is
considered:
A) Lucky
B) Harsh
C) Wise ✅
D) Suspicious
➡️ “…that prince… is a wise prince.”
·
43. Ministers should be more sensitive to:
A) Fortune
B) Personal gain
C) Duty ✅
D) Appearance
➡️ “…choose such ministers, as are more sensible
of duty than of rising…”
·
44. Ministers should love business for:
A) Money
B) Ambition
C) Conscience ✅
D) Fame
➡️ “…such as love business rather upon
conscience…”
·
45. Ministers should avoid doing business out of:
A) Duty
B) Kindness
C) Bravery
D) Bravado or vanity ✅
➡️ “…than upon bravery…”
·
46. Bacon advises rulers to tell the difference
between a “busy nature” and:
A) A peaceful mind
B) A sly politician
C) A willing mind ✅
D) A silent thinker
➡️ “…discern a busy nature, from a willing mind.”
·
47. The phrase “to pull off his spurs” suggests:
A) To reduce a knight’s authority ✅
B) To prepare for war
C) To remove armor
D) To test bravery
➡️ Used to explain how removing ambition from
soldiers weakens them.
·
48. Ambitious men, when made insecure, may:
A) Behave better
B) Delay their plans
C) Precipitate their designs ✅
D) Serve loyally
➡️ Dangerous when forced to act suddenly.
·
49. One way to make ambitious men less dangerous is
to:
A) Isolate them
B) Provide them with constant praise
C) Promote them without control
D) Keep them unknowing of what to expect ✅
➡️ Mixing favor and disgrace keeps them unstable.
·
50. Ambition to appear in everything leads to:
A) Admiration
B) Clarity
C) Confusion and ruined business ✅
D) Effective leadership
➡️ “…that breeds confusion, and mars business.”
·
51. Which kind of ambition does Bacon describe as
the “decay of a whole age”?
A) Ambition for wealth
B) Ambition to govern all
C) Desire to be the only figure among ciphers ✅
D) Ambition to serve the public
➡️ He who wants to shine among nobodies harms the
era itself.
·
52. A man who wants to be "the only figure
among ciphers" is likely to:
A) Elevate others
B) Compete fairly
C) Undermine greatness ✅
D) Foster excellence
➡️ He wants all others to remain insignificant.
·
53. What is a more acceptable kind of ambition,
according to Bacon?
A) Competing with inferiors
B) Controlling information
C) Prevailing in great things ✅
D) Gaining titles
➡️ Aspiring to do great things benefits the
public.
·
54. Bacon uses the term “cipher” to describe people
who are:
A) Highly skilled
B) Influential in politics
C) Of little or no worth or power ✅
D) Secret advisors
➡️ Ambitious men often surround themselves with
weak, dependent followers.
·
55. What kind of ambition “breeds confusion and
mars business”?
A) Practical ambition
B) Military ambition
C) The ambition to appear in everything ✅
D) Private ambition
➡️ Trying to be involved in all things disrupts
organization.
·
56. Bacon believes it is less dangerous to have an
ambitious man:
A) Retired from court
B) Stirring in business ✅
C) Silent in prayer
D) Wealthy and passive
➡️ Busy workers are safer than those building secret
alliances.
·
57. “Great in dependences” means having:
A) Weak financial systems
B) Many people who rely on you ✅
C) Personal pride
D) No influence
➡️ Such people gather power through loyalty
networks.
·
58. Which type of ambitious man does Bacon praise?
A) One who manipulates crowds
B) One who seeks honor through honest work ✅
C) One who is feared
D) One who is quick to flatter
➡️ “He that hath the best of these intentions...
is an honest man.”
·
59. The honest ambitious man aspires primarily to:
A) Control courts
B) Please the masses
C) Do good ✅
D) Avoid enemies
➡️ This aligns with the first part of Bacon’s
definition of honor.
·
60. The prince who discerns intentions in others is
described as:
A) Severe
B) Popular
C) Wise ✅
D) Proud
➡️ “…that prince… is a wise prince.”
·
61. What quality should princes prioritize in
ministers?
A) Ability to flatter
B) Ambition to rise
C) Sensibility of duty ✅
D) Lineage
➡️ “…such ministers, as are more sensible of duty
than of rising.”
·
62. The best ministers love business out of:
A) Conscience ✅
B) Ambition
C) Fame
D) Necessity
➡️ “…such as love business rather upon
conscience…”
·
63. What motivates the wrong kind of minister,
according to Bacon?
A) Bravery
B) Glory
C) Bravado ✅
D) Family
➡️ “…than upon bravery [i.e., showiness].”
·
64. Bacon warns rulers to distinguish between a
busy nature and a:
A) Clever speaker
B) Coward
C) Willing mind ✅
D) Silent conspirator
➡️ A truly loyal servant works without ambition.
·
65. “Interchange of favors and disgraces” helps to:
A) Disgrace openly
B) Keep ambitious men balanced ✅
C) Reward loyalty
D) Test one’s patience
➡️ Keeping them guessing avoids concentration of
power.
·
66. Making an ambitious man feel both praised and
punished leads him to:
A) Retire in frustration
B) Plot carefully
C) Stay in confusion ✅
D) Beg for favor
➡️ “…that they may not know what to expect, and
be, as it were, in a wood.”
·
67. Why does Bacon suggest using ambitious men as
“screens” for princes?
A) They distract the public
B) They are loyal to a fault
C) They attract danger and envy away from the prince ✅
D) They write propaganda
➡️ They shield rulers from blame or threat.
·
68. The metaphor of a “seeled dove” implies someone
who:
A) Flies with skill
B) Mounts blindly ✅
C) Guides others
D) Lives in peace
➡️ A seeled (blinded) dove keeps rising because it
cannot see.
·
69. A seeled dove is used to describe an ambitious
man who:
A) Seeks only peace
B) Is aware of his surroundings
C) Rises blindly in ambition ✅
D) Values duty above power
➡️ An unseeing, driven figure.
·
70. Ambitious men newly raised to power are:
A) More dangerous
B) Less dangerous ✅
C) More entitled
D) Proud and unreachable
➡️ They have not yet built strong political
alliances.
·
71. Ambitious men of noble birth are:
A) Easy to control
B) More admired
C) More dangerous ✅
D) Less influential
➡️ They bring greater influence and pride.
·
72. Why is it useful to have favorites in the
court?
A) They handle finances
B) They train servants
C) They balance against ambitious rivals ✅
D) They spy on enemies
➡️ They limit other courtiers’ rise.
·
73. Bacon compares “middle counsellors” to:
A) Watchmen
B) Ballast that steadies a ship ✅
C) Navigators
D) Spies in court
➡️ Without them, the ship (court) rolls too much.
·
74. Who may be animated as “scourges” to ambitious
men?
A) Noblemen
B) Religious leaders
C) Meaner persons ✅
D) Scholars
➡️ Less prominent figures can be used to check
ambition.
·
75. Ambitious men, if of “fearful nature,” may be
controlled by:
A) Gold
B) Threat of ruin ✅
C) Church authority
D) Long exile
➡️ “…if they be of fearful natures, it may do
well…”
·
76. If an ambitious man is stout and daring, the
threat of ruin will likely:
A) Humble him
B) Correct him
C) Encourage him to plot dangerously ✅
D) Turn him to religion
➡️ “…it may precipitate their designs, and prove
dangerous.”
·
77. Bacon advises against using ambitious men
unless:
A) They are related
B) Forced by necessity ✅
C) Religious
D) They offer bribes
➡️ “It were good not to use men of ambitious
natures, except it be upon necessity.”
·
78. Ambitious men of mean birth are:
A) More threatening
B) Easier to manage ✅
C) Always loyal
D) Ignored
➡️ “…less danger of them, if they be of mean
birth…”
·
79. An ambitious man who is “gracious and popular”
is considered:
A) Dangerous ✅
B) Harmless
C) Humble
D) Weak
➡️ “…than gracious and popular…”
·
80. Ambitious men are most dangerous when they:
A) Are inactive
B) Are religious
C) Are long-entrenched in power ✅
D) Have foreign allies
➡️ “…grown cunning, and fortified, in their
greatness.”
·
81. Using ambitious men as “scourges” involves:
A) Letting them punish others
B) Subjecting them to attack
C) Allowing others to check their rise ✅
D) Elevating them through rank
➡️ Meaner persons can be used to limit them.
·
82. What is a prince’s advantage in appointing a
favorite?
A) Avoids court gossip
B) Keeps court humble
C) Prevents others from becoming overgreat ✅
D) Saves money
➡️ “…best remedy against ambitious great–ones.”
·
83. Without middle counsellors, the metaphorical
ship will:
A) Capsize
B) Become royal
C) Roll too much ✅
D) Sail calmly
➡️ Balance is crucial in governance.
·
84. “Ballast” in Bacon’s metaphor refers to:
A) Gossip
B) Gold
C) Balanced advisers ✅
D) Military force
➡️ They stabilize the ship (government).
·
85. Ambition in military men is considered:
A) Always dangerous
B) Useful ✅
C) Weak
D) Nonexistent
➡️ “To take a soldier without ambition, is to pull
off his spurs.”
·
86. A man “great in dependences” is one who:
A) Serves silently
B) Depends on his own skill
C) Controls many followers ✅
D) Is emotionally unstable
➡️ Such power can rival the prince’s own.
·
87. Why is it dangerous for a man to be “great in
dependences”?
A) He becomes more generous
B) He stops working
C) He may create rival power structures ✅
D) He spends royal funds
➡️ A man with too many followers becomes a threat.
·
88. An honest man's ambition should be grounded in:
A) Wealth
B) Doing good ✅
C) Impressing nobles
D) Controlling people
➡️ “He that hath the best of these intentions… is
an honest man.”
·
89. A wise prince is one who can:
A) Make peace
B) Gather spies
C) Read the intentions behind ambition ✅
D) Ignore courtly politics
➡️ “…that prince… is a wise prince.”
·
90. Bacon argues that ambition must be:
A) Rewarded always
B) Erased
C) Watched, balanced, and managed ✅
D) Allowed to thrive
➡️ Entire essay is about regulation of ambition.
·
91. A man who wants to shine among nobodies
weakens:
A) Himself
B) His family
C) The entire age ✅
D) The monarchy
➡️ “…is the decay of a whole age.”
·
92. Wanting to “appear in everything” causes:
A) Court stability
B) Business efficiency
C) Confusion and damage ✅
D) Heroic acts
➡️ “…that breeds confusion, and mars business.”
·
93. The “three things in honor” include:
A) Fame, money, and control
B) Doing good, access to rulers, and personal rise ✅
C) War, peace, and power
D) Wealth, charm, and strategy
➡️ “…vantage ground to do good; the approach to
kings… raising of a man’s own fortunes.”
·
94. Bacon believes princes should choose ministers
based on:
A) Flattery
B) Religion
C) Conscience and sense of duty ✅
D) Bloodline
➡️ “…choose such ministers, as are more sensible
of duty…”
·
95. A busy nature must be distinguished from:
A) A wise mind
B) A willing mind ✅
C) A coward
D) A fighter
➡️ “Discern a busy nature, from a willing mind.”
·
96. What metaphor does Bacon use to describe
confusion caused by unpredictable treatment?
A) In a cage
B) In a storm
C) In a wood ✅
D) In fire
➡️ “…and be, as it were, in a wood.”
·
97. Why is alternating favor and disgrace
effective?
A) It inspires rebellion
B) It builds loyalty
C) It keeps men uncertain and less dangerous ✅
D) It attracts foreign attention
➡️ Constant uncertainty prevents conspiracies.
·
98. The ambition “to prevail in great things” is:
A) Selfish
B) Dangerous
C) Acceptable and even good ✅
D) Rare
➡️ Bacon sees it as less harmful.
·
99. Ambition is least dangerous when it is found in
those who:
A) Are brave and beloved
B) Are cunning and entrenched
C) Are newly risen and harsh ✅
D) Come from royal blood
➡️ These men lack deep political support.
·
100. What is the essay’s overall stance on
ambition?
A) It must be encouraged
B) It should be exterminated
C) It must be used wisely and carefully managed ✅
D) It is always evil
➡️ Bacon acknowledges its power and necessity, but
insists on cautious control.
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