Of Studies (Part 2)
They perfect Nature, and are perfected by Experience: for Naturall Abilities, are like Naturall Plants, that need Proyning by Study; and Studies themselves, doe give forth Directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty Men Contemne Studies; Simple Men Admire them; And Wise Men Use them; For they teach not their owne Use; But that is a Wisdome without them, and above them, won by Observation.
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Nature: "Natural Abilities"; natural qualities; innate qualities.
Studies give perfection to one's inborn qualities. One can be a born singer, but practice will make one perfect singer, ready to dazzle the world.
Proyning: Pruning. Pruning gives shape to wild plants; in the same way studies give shape to otherwise shapeless natural abilities. Though studies (=studied knowledge) perfect nature, it does not mean that studied knowledge is perfect. Studies become perfect only when it is seasoned with experience. Here, Bacon is speaking of the interdependence between studies and experience.
Crafty men: 1. Cunning people 2. Experienced people (skilled in craft)
Simple men: Simpletons.
And Wise Men Use them: This terse sentence gives a definition of wisdom. Wise men become wise by dint of their ability to make use of their studies or studied knowledge. Here, the key word is "use". Studies give one raw information. When one goes thorugh books, what one gathers are pieces of information. These pieces of information go into making his knowledge, but not wisdom. Bacon clearly states that wisdom goes hand in hand with "use" of studies. When one uses one's studies / studied knowledge in the practical life - successfully or unsucessfully it does not matter, the common sense says that the more unsuccessful one is the wiser one becomes - one becomes wise. We must not at this point forget that, pressing our studied knowledge into service - successfully or unsuccessfully - is otherwise known as experience. So, the rough formula for wisdom runs thus: Wisdom = Knowledge + Experience. Following Bacon we can say that wisdom lies not in study alone, but in the deft application of studied knowledge.
Without: Outside.
Above: Superior to.