"Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise"

This quote by Francis Bacon is a cautioning about the dangers of enabling cunning people to be viewed as smart. He is recommending that when shrewd individuals are viewed as sensible, it can be damaging to a state. This is since shrewd individuals are frequently motivated by their own self-interest and may not have the very best interests of the state in mind. They might use their cunning to manipulate and deceive others in order to get power or wealth. This can result in corruption and instability in the state, which can have a negative impact on the people living there. Bacon is warning that it is very important to be aware of the distinction in between knowledge and shrewd, and to ensure that only those who are truly smart are seen as such.