Francis Bacon: Essays and Major Works

#5 - How does he explain the phrase "A young man not yet, an elderly man not at all?

Of Marriage and Single Life

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In his essay “Of Marriage and Single Life” Bacon says that choosing the right time for marriage can be dubious for youthful and covetous men. For them, it is the delights of the body that are generally significant. Accordingly, he proposes that young man ought to be quiet and not hurry into significant choices. Marriage requests responsibility and complete dedication and therefore men must wait for the fortunate time. On the flipside, when a man is old and suffering, he should not hurry to get a spouse regardless of whether there are lovely young women who are accessible to marry. Old age brings a lot of issues and problems and may prompt undesirable circumstances. Bacon perfectly uses a philosopher’s statement to respond the inquiry concerning the right age and time to marry, ‘a young man not yet an older man not at all’.