Francis Bacon Quotes
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For first of all we must prepare a Natural and Experimental History, sufficient and good; and this is the foundation of all; for we are not to imagine or suppose, but to discover, what nature does or may be made to do.
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He who desires solitude is either an animal or a god.
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Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.
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It was well said that envy keeps no holidays.
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Affected dispatch is one of the most dangerous things to business that can be. It is like that, which the physicians call predigestion, or hasty digestion; which is sure to fill the body full of crudities, and secret seeds of diseases. Therefore measure not dispatch, by the times of sitting, but by the advancement of the business.
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It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.
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No man's fortune can be an end worthy of his being.
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Some men covet knowledge out of a natural curiosity and inquisitive temper; some to entertain the mind with variety and delight; some for ornament and reputation; some for victory and contention; many for lucre and a livelihood; and but few for employing the Divine gift of reason to the use and benefit of mankind.
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But the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempted from the wrong of time, and capable of perpetual renovation.
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Generally he perceived in men of devout simplicity this opinion: that the secrets of nature were the secrets of God, part of that glory into which man is not to press too boldly.
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Doctor Johnson said, that in sickness there were three things that were material; the physician, the disease, and the patient: and if any two of these joined, then they get the victory; for, Ne Hercules quidem contra duos [Not even Hercules himself is a match for two]. If the physician and the patient join, then down goes the disease; for then the patient recovers: if the physician and the disease join, that is a strong disease; and the physician mistaking the cure, then down goes the patient: if the patient and the disease join, then down goes the physician; for he is discredited.
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States are great engines moving slowly.
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Be not penny-wise. Riches have wings. Sometimes they fly away of themselves, and sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.
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When any of the four pillars of government-religion, justice, counsel, and treasure-are mainly shaken or weakened, men had need to pray for fair weather.
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Ne mireris, si vulgus verius loquatur quam honoratiores; quia etiam tutius loquitur.
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Gardening is the purest of human pleasures.
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All good moral philosophy is ... but the handmaid to religion.
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There ought to be gardens for all months in the year, in which, severally, things of beauty may be then in season.
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It is yet a higher speech of his than the other, 'It is true greatness to have in one the frailty of a man and the security of a god.'
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It is a good point of cunning for a man to shape the answer he would have in his own words and propositions, for it makes the other party stick the less.
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Lastly, I would address one general admonition to all: that they consider what are the true ends of knowledge, and that they seek it not either for pleasure of the mind, or for contention, or for superiority to others, or for profit, or fame, or power, or any of these inferior things: but for the benefit and use of life; and that they perfect and govern it in charity.
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Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers for the observers of his law. The people assembled. Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and again; and when the hill stood still he was never a whit abashed, but said, 'If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill.'
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Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
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It is the wisdom of the crocodiles, that shed tears when they would devour.