IT IS a trivial grammar-school text, but yet worthy a wise man's consideration. Question was asked of Demosthenes, what was the chief part of an orator? he answered, action; what next? action; what next again? action. He said it, that knew it best, and had, by nature, himself no advantage in that he commended. A strange thing, that that part of an orator, which is but superficial, and rather the virtue of a player, should be placed so high, above those other noble parts, of invention, elocution, and the rest; nay, almost alone, as if it were all in all. But the reason is plain. There is in human nature generally, more of the fool than of the wise; and therefore those faculties, by which the foolish part of men's minds is taken, are most potent. Wonderful like is the case of boldness in civil business: what first? boldness; what second and third? boldness. And yet boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness, far inferior to other parts. But nevertheless it doth fascinate, and bind hand and foot, those that are either shallow in judgment, or weak in courage, which are the greatest part; yea and prevaileth with wise men at weak times. Therefore we see it hath done wonders, in popular states; but with senates, and princes less; and more ever upon the first entrance of bold persons into action, than soon after; for boldness is an ill keeper of promise. Surely, as there are mountebanks for the natural body, so are there mountebanks for the politic body; men that undertake great cures, and perhaps have been lucky, in two or three experiments, but want the grounds of science, and therefore cannot hold out. Nay, you shall see a bold fellow many times do Mahomet's miracle. Mahomet made the people believe that he would call an hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers, for the observers of his law. The people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and again; and when the hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said, If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill. So these men, when they have promised great matters, and failed most shamefully, yet (if they have the perfection of boldness) they will but slight it over, and make a turn, and no more ado. Certainly to men of great judgment, bold persons are a sport to behold; nay, and to the vulgar also, boldness has somewhat of the ridiculous. For if absurdity be the subject of laughter, doubt you not but great boldness is seldom without some absurdity. Especially it is a sport to see, when a bold fellow is out of countenance; for that puts his face into a most shrunken, and wooden posture; as needs it must; for in bashfulness, the spirits do a little go and come; but with bold men, upon like occasion, they stand at a stay; like a stale at chess, where it is no mate, but yet the game cannot stir. But this last were fitter for a satire than for a serious observation. This is well to be weighed; that boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not danger, and inconveniences. Therefore it is ill in counsel, good in execution; so that the right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For in counsel, it is good to see dangers; and in execution, not to see them, except they be very great.
This is a commonplace school lesson, yet it deserves a wise man's attention. Demosthenes was asked what mattered most in a public speaker. He answered, “Delivery.” What came next? “Delivery.” And next again? “Delivery.” He knew the subject better than anyone, yet had no natural advantage in the quality he praised. It is strange that this superficial part of public speaking should rank so high. It is more an actor's skill, yet it ranks above such noble skills as invention, expression, and the rest. Indeed, it stands almost alone, as though it were everything. But the reason is plain. Human nature generally contains more foolishness than wisdom. So the skills that appeal to the foolish part of people's minds have the greatest power. The case of boldness in public affairs is remarkably similar. What comes first? Boldness. What comes second and third? Boldness. Yet boldness springs from ignorance and low character, and is far inferior to other qualities. Nevertheless, it fascinates and utterly overpowers people with shallow judgment or weak courage, who make up the majority. It even prevails over wise people in their weak moments. We therefore see that it has worked wonders in democracies, but less so with senates and rulers. Its effect is also greater when bold people first enter public life than soon afterward. Boldness is poor at keeping its promises. Just as there are quack doctors for the human body, there are quacks for the body politic. They promise great cures and perhaps have been lucky in two or three attempts. But they lack a foundation of sound knowledge, so they cannot sustain their success. Indeed, you will often see a bold fellow perform Muhammad's miracle. Muhammad persuaded the people that he would summon a hill to him. From its top, he would offer prayers for those who followed his law. The people gathered, and Muhammad called again and again for the hill to come to him. When it stayed where it was, he was not the least embarrassed. He said, “If the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the hill.” These men behave the same way when they promise great things and fail disgracefully. If they possess perfect boldness, they simply brush it aside, change course, and make no more fuss. To people of great judgment, bold people are certainly entertaining to watch. Even to ordinary people, boldness has something ridiculous about it. If absurdity makes us laugh, you can be sure that great boldness is seldom free from some absurdity. It is especially entertaining to see a bold fellow embarrassed. His face becomes utterly pinched and wooden, as it must. In shy people, the spirits ebb and flow a little. But when bold people are similarly embarrassed, their spirits come to a standstill. It is like a stalemate in chess, where there is no checkmate, yet the game cannot move forward. But this last point belongs more in satire than in serious reflection. This deserves careful thought. Boldness is always blind, for it sees neither dangers nor difficulties. It is therefore bad in planning but good in carrying plans out. The proper use of bold people is never to give them supreme command. Instead, make them deputies, working under the direction of others. When planning, it is good to see dangers. When carrying out plans, it is good not to see them, unless they are very great.