Francis Bacon Quotes
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But the idols of the Market Place are the most troublesome of all: idols which have crept into the understanding through their alliances with words and names. For men believe that their reason governs words. But words turn and twist the understanding. This it is that has rendered philosophy and the sciences inactive. Words are mostly cut to the common fashion and draw the distinctions which are most obvious to the common understanding. Whenever an understanding of greater acuteness or more diligent observation would alter those lines to suit the true distinctions of nature, words complain.
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What then remains but that we still should cry Not to be born, or, being born, to die?
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Why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me?
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If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again.
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Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.
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A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
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Of all the things in nature, the formation and endowment of man was singled out by the ancients.
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Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.
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Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
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Truth is a naked and open daylight, that does not show the masques, and mummeries, and triumphs of the world, half so stately and daintily as candle-lights. . . A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.
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I like, you may say, the glitter and colour that comes from the mouth, and I've always hoped in a sense to be able to paint the mouth like Monet painted a sunset.
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The way of fortune is like the milky way in the sky; which is a meeting, or knot, of a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together : so are there a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate.
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The breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air than in the hand.
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The place of justice is a hallowed place.
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Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.
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It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other.
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Liberty of speech invites and provokes liberty to be used again, and so bringeth much to a man's knowledge.
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Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages. And yet the invention of young men, is more lively than that of old; and imaginations stream into their minds better, and, as it were, more divinely.
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Jesus would have been one of the best photographers that ever existed. He was always looking at the beauty of people souls. In fact Jesus was constantly making pictures of God in people's life by looking at their souls and exposing them to his light.
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All superstition is much the same whether it be that of astrology, dreams, omen, retributive judgment, or the like, in all of which the deluded believers observe events which are fulfilled, but neglect and pass over their failure, though it be much more common.
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Great boldness is seldom without some absurdity.
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It is a true rule that love is ever rewarded, either with the reciproque or with an inward and secret contempt.
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God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
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This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.