Francis Bacon Quotes
-
Why should a man be in love with his fetters, though of gold?
-
Knowledge is power.
-
If I sit and daydream, the images rush by like a succession of colored slides.
-
God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.
-
Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite.
-
Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.
-
It is madness and a contradiction to expect that things which were never yet performed should be effected, except by means hitherto untried.
-
Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.
-
Men in great place are thrice servants,-servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.
-
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.
-
Rather to excite your judgment briefly than to inform it tediously.
-
For no man can forbid the spark nor tell whence it may come.
-
It was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that 'The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.'
-
They that reverence to much old times are but a scorn to the new.
-
The master of superstition, is the people; and in all superstition, wise men follow fools; and arguments are fitted to practice, in a reversed order.
-
They who derive their worth from their ancestors resemble potatoes, the most valuable part of which is underground.
-
The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.
-
It is in life as it is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, and surely the fairer way is not much about.
-
It is by discourse that men associate, and words are imposed according to the apprehension of the vulgar. And therefore the ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obsesses the understanding. Nor do the definitions or explanations wherewith in some things learned men are wont to guard and defend themselves, by any means set the matter right. But words plainly force and overrule the understanding, and throw all into confusion, and lead men away into innumerable and inane controversies and fancies.
-
We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.
-
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.
-
People prefer to believe what they want to be true.
-
Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.
-
Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.