Here we give leave and permission to anyone who is better suited to mechanical things, and better trained, and ingenious in deriving results from mere acquaintance with experiments, to undertake the difficult task of gathering a good crop from our history and from our tables as he passes by, taking an interest payment for the time being until the capital can be had.

Bacon's metaphor of capital and interest is very appropriate, given his own permanent debts. He uses it to show the relationship between the immediate and long-term benefits of his work. In the short term, he believes that the information he proposes to gather and analyze can be used for practical ends, such as perfecting new inventions or improving industry. This might be valuable for some people, but the real benefits to mankind are far greater; Bacon believes that by completing the project men can improve their lives vastly and gain real knowledge about nature. He does not criticize those with practical skills and talents, as his method depends on accurate and effective experiments. However, he does believe that their goals—immediate practical benefits and financial gain—are not the most important.