"He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other"
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Francis Bacon’s statement explores the impact of words and actions in guiding others. Someone who offers good advice contributes positively, helping others construct knowledge or character. Advice, in this sense, is useful, much like building with one hand, signifying that words can provide a helpful foundation. However, Bacon pushes further, suggesting that advice is not enough; offering both wise counsel and a good example is akin to building with both hands, a fuller, stronger contribution. Actions amplify words, and when guidance is reinforced by the advisor’s own positive behavior, its effect is maximized. Leadership and influence are at their most effective when integrity exists between what is said and what is done.
Contrast arises with those who give sound admonition but set a poor example. This is likened to building with one hand while tearing down with the other. Words may instruct, warn, or encourage improvement, implying the intention to do good, but if actions contradict those intentions, they undermine the message. Hypocrisy not only diminishes the speaker’s credibility but can also lead others astray, undoing any positive effects their advice might have brought. The image of undoing one’s own work reflects the futility and harm in attempting to promote virtue while practicing vice. Those observing will be confused or discouraged, questioning the sincerity and validity of the counsel offered.
Bacon’s reflection emphasizes that the most enduring and influential legacy comes from the harmony of principled speech and action. Integrity becomes essential in the act of building character or a community. Merely telling others what is right is insufficient without the authenticity of living out such ideals. When advice and example are aligned, progress is made; when misaligned, even the best advice can come to nothing or cause harm.
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