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  ...keep themselves more in guard, and to make others carry it with more pleasure. It is a good point of cunning, for a man to shape the answer he would have, in his own words and propositions; for it makes the other party stick the less.
It is strange how long some men will lie in wait to speak somewhat they desire to say; and how far about they will fetch; and how many other mat- ters they will beat over, to come near it. It is a thing of great patience, but yet of much use. A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.   Like to him that , having changed his name, and walking in Paul's, another suddenly came behind him, and called him by his true name, whereat straightways he looked back.
But these small wares, and petty points, of cun- ning, are infinite; and it were a good deed to make a list of them; for that nothing doth more hurt in a state, than that cunning men pass for wise.
But certainly some there are that know the re- sorts and falls of business, that cannot sink into the main of it;...   Bacon, Francis

Excerpt from Essays of Francis Bacon · This quote is tagged Questions · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation.

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