Bacon's Essays 6 (Simulation And Dissimulation)

 Bacon's Essays 6 (Simulation And Dissimulation)

Bonus:

Sweet album art

Summary: When you hide yourself, you weaken yourself.

Commentary: 

I didn't think of dissimulation in this context before, but it appears aligned with the dictionary definition. (Hiding under a false appearance.) I always think of it as just not engaging with the situation.

There be three degrees of this hiding and veiling of a man's self. The first, closeness, reservation, and secrecy; when a man leaveth himself without observation, or without hold to be taken, what he is. The second, dissimulation, in the negative; when a man lets fall signs and arguments, that he is not, that he is. And the third, simulation, in the affirmative; when a man industriously and expressly feigns and pretends to be, that he is not.

I think that first is closer to how we use it today.

The third and greatest is, that it depriveth a man of one of the most principal instruments for action; which is trust and belief. The best composition and temperature, is to have openness in fame and opinion; secrecy in habit; dissimulation in seasonable use; and a power to feign, if there be no remedy.

Truth.