[Wave Master]

AN ANT is a wise creature for itself, but it is a shrewd thing, in an orchard or garden. And certainly, men that are great lovers of themselves, waste the public. = I like this one, it means that humans are too boastfull and egotistical while a common ant is wise but has humility

Divide with reason; between selflove and society; and be so true to thyself, as thou be not false to others; specially to thy king and country. = Ask yourself which is more important, yourself or the ones you love, so that you can attain the true to you, and especially to help the Country or community you live in

It is a poor centre of a man's actions, himself. It is right earth. For that only stands fast upon his own centre; whereas all things, that have affinity with the heavens, move upon the centre of another, which they benefit. = Talks about the conceded minds that humans have and that if he can be more modest he will benefit more than being egotistical

The referring of all to a man's self, is more tolerable in a sovereign prince; because themselves are not only themselves, but their good and evil is at the peril of the public fortune.but it is a desperate evil, in a servant to a prince, or a citizen in a republic = It is important to know yourself because if you know yourself you can know what is good and bad in life

For whatsoever affairs pass such a man's hands, he crooketh them to his own ends; which must needs be often eccentric to the ends of his master, or state. = Whatever happens to a person should be solved by that person, and that if it should happen he should know the different ways to solve a problem

Therefore, let princes, or states, choose such servants, as have not this mark; except they mean their service should be made but the accessory. = Let ppl choose the helpers with intelligence unless you want to use them only because of there ability

That which maketh the effect more pernicious, is that all proportion is lost. = dubya tee eff?

It were disproportion enough, for the servant's good to be preferred before the master's; but yet it is a greater extreme, when a little good of the servant, shall carry things against a great good of the master's. = Its good when helpers show there helpful ways to the person that they are helping but it might be better to do good when they are not around there master so that the master feels good when he thinks that he did something right

And yet that is the case of bad officers, treasurers, ambassadors, generals, and other false and corrupt servants; which set a bias upon their bowl, of their own petty ends and envies, to the overthrow of their master's great and important affairs. = Talks about the human ego and how many people will try to hurt others for their own gain

And for the most part, the good such servants receive, is after the model of their own fortune; but the hurt they sell for that good, is after the model of their master's fortune. = If you do good and not get hurt then you get rewarded but if you do good by sacrificing something else than you might help both yourself and the master

And certainly it is the nature of extreme self-lovers, as they will set an house on fire, and it were but to roast their eggs; and yet these men many times hold credit with their masters, because their study is but to please them, and profit themselves; and for either respect, they will abandon the good of their affairs. = Again talking about the ego humans have and that they will abandon good and justice for there selfish gain

Edit: This is my take on it, here's an advice break the paragraph down to sentences then analyze the sentences



Edited By Wave Master on 1102281196