Summary of "Of Love" by Francis Bacon
In his essay
Of Love, Francis Bacon reflects on the nature of love, particularly romantic love, and its impact on human life. He contrasts the portrayal of love on stage with its effects in real life. While love is often a source of comedy or tragedy in plays, in life, it can cause significant harm. Bacon argues that love is a weak passion, one that distracts from greater pursuits and accomplishments. He warns that love can even infiltrate the hearts of wise and powerful individuals if they are not vigilant.
Bacon points out that the intensity of love often leads people to irrational behavior, speaking and acting in hyperbolic ways that distort reality. He asserts that love makes people lose their wisdom, as lovers think absurdly well of the person they love. Additionally, Bacon notes that love is rewarded either by reciprocation or by secret contempt from the one who is loved. He emphasizes that love can lead to the loss of important things, including wealth and wisdom, as illustrated by the myth of Paris preferring Helen over the gifts of Juno and Pallas.
Key Points and Analysis
The Nature of Love
- Love on stage vs. real life: Bacon contrasts how love is depicted in plays as a source of comedy and tragedy, while in life it often causes mischief and harm.
"The stage is more beholding to love than the life of man."
- Love as a weak passion: He argues that love is a weak and distracting passion, particularly for those with great spirits or important business to attend to.
"Great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion."
- Love in wise and strong individuals: Although love usually doesn't affect those with great power or wisdom, Bacon acknowledges rare exceptions, like Marcus Antonius and Appius Claudius, who were overtaken by love despite their strength.
"Love can find entrance not only into an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified."
Excesses and Irrationality of Love
- Love distorts judgment: Bacon observes that love often leads to irrationality, causing people to speak and act in exaggerated, hyperbolic ways that go beyond normal behavior.
"The speaking in a perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but in love."
- Lovers flatter more than proud men: He suggests that lovers are the greatest flatterers, even more so than proud men who think highly of themselves.
"The lover is more. For there was never proud man thought so absurdly well of himself as the lover doth of the person loved."
- Impossibility of wisdom in love: Bacon asserts that it is impossible to love and be wise at the same time because love distorts judgment.
"It is impossible to love and to be wise."
- Love leads to contempt if not reciprocated: If love is not reciprocated, it often results in secret contempt from the one who is loved.
"Love is ever rewarded either with the reciproque or with an inward and secret contempt."
The Dangers of Love
- Loss of wisdom and wealth: Bacon warns that those who overvalue romantic affection lose more than just love itself—they lose wealth and wisdom.
"Whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affection, quitteth both riches and wisdom."
- Love as the child of folly: He suggests that love is often kindled in times of great prosperity or adversity, showing it to be the offspring of folly.
"This passion hath his floods in the very times of weakness; which are great prosperity and great adversity."
- Love and serious affairs: Bacon advises that love should be kept separate from serious business and actions, as it can disturb one’s focus and fortunes.
"They do best, who, if they cannot but admit love, yet make it keep quarter, and sever it wholly from their serious affairs."
Types of Love
- Nuptial love: According to Bacon, nuptial or marital love is the foundation of mankind, as it is responsible for reproduction and the continuation of society.
"Nuptial love maketh mankind."
- Friendly love: He considers friendship to perfect mankind, as it adds depth and support to human life.
"Friendly love perfecteth it."
- Wanton love: In contrast, wanton or lustful love is corrupting and debases human nature.
"Wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it."
Themes
The Weakness of Love
- Love as a distraction: Bacon sees love as a weak and potentially dangerous passion that can distract individuals from important goals and rational pursuits. He believes that wise and great men should avoid being overpowered by love.
"Great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion."
- Love's irrationality: A key theme is the irrational nature of love, as lovers tend to speak in hyperboles and view the object of their affection with exaggerated admiration, losing touch with reality.
"It is impossible to love and to be wise."
The Consequences of Love
- Loss of reason and success: Bacon argues that love causes people to lose their sense of reason, resulting in poor decisions, loss of wealth, and damage to their fortunes.
"Whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affection, quitteth both riches and wisdom."
- Love versus wisdom: He emphasizes that the pursuit of love is incompatible with wisdom, as love distorts one's judgment and leads to foolish behavior.
"It is impossible to love and to be wise."
Different Types of Love
- Nuptial love: Bacon highlights the importance of marital love in human life, as it is essential for the continuation of society.
"Nuptial love maketh mankind."
- Friendship vs. lust: He contrasts the benefits of friendly love, which perfects human relationships, with wanton love, which corrupts and debases individuals.
"Friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it."
