Francis Bacon

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.

— Francis Bacon

It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!

— Francis Bacon

They that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.

— Francis Bacon

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

— Francis Bacon

There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend giveth, and that a man giveth himself, as there is between the counsel of a friend and of a flatterer. For there is no such flatterer as is a man's self.

— Francis Bacon

He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.

— Francis Bacon

Age will not be defied.

— Francis Bacon

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

— Francis Bacon

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

— Francis Bacon

Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

— Francis Bacon

People of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon and seldom drive business home to it's conclusion, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

— Francis Bacon

Anger makes dull men witty -- but it keeps them poor.

— Francis Bacon

Small amounts of philosophy lead to atheism, but larger amounts bring us back to God.

— Francis Bacon

Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.

— Francis Bacon

It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

— Francis Bacon

I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a Mind.

— Francis Bacon

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.

— Francis Bacon

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.

— Francis Bacon

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

— Francis Bacon

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

— Francis Bacon

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others, but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.

— Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

— Francis Bacon

If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.

— Francis Bacon

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

— Francis Bacon

That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactly the same, is sufficiently certain.

— Francis Bacon

In charity there is no excess.

— Francis Bacon

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

— Francis Bacon

Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.

— Francis Bacon

Of great wealth there is no real use, except in its distribution, the rest is just conceit.

— Francis Bacon

A good conscience is a continual feast.

— Francis Bacon

Consistency is the foundation of virtue.

— Francis Bacon

Look to make your course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect.

— Francis Bacon

The place of justice is a hallowed place.

— Francis Bacon

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.

— Francis Bacon

God's first creature, which was light.

— Francis Bacon

People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom.

— Francis Bacon

It is natural to die as to be born.

— Francis Bacon

It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other. He that dies in an earnest pursuit, is like one that is wounded in hot blood; who for the time scarce feels the hurt; and therefore a mind fixed and bent upon somewhat that is good, doth aver the dolours of death.

— Francis Bacon

I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.

— Francis Bacon

The great advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three. First to lay asleep opposition and to surprise. For where a man's intentions are published, it is an alarum to call up all that are against them. The second is to reserve a man's self a fair retreat: for if a man engage himself, by a manifest declaration, he must go through, or take a fall. The third is, the better to discover the mind of another. For to him that opens himself, men will hardly show themselves adverse; but will fair let him go on, and turn their freedom of speech to freedom of thought.

— Francis Bacon

The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.

— Francis Bacon

They are ill discoverers that think there is no land when they see nothing but sea.

— Francis Bacon

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

— Francis Bacon

Cure the disease and kill the patient.

— Francis Bacon

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men's heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.

— Francis Bacon

In contemplation, if a man begins with certainties he shall end in doubts; but if he be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

— Francis Bacon

Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

— Francis Bacon

Suspicion amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they never fly by twilight.

— Francis Bacon

None of the affections have been noted to fascinate and bewitch but envy.

— Francis Bacon

Riches are for spending.

— Francis Bacon

Men on their side must force themselves for a while to lay their notions by and begin to familiarize themselves with facts.

— Francis Bacon

Certainly, Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen and drowns things weighty and solid. But if persons of quality and judgement concur, then it is, (as the Scripture saith) Nomen bonum instar unguenti fragrantis : it filleth all round about, and will not easily away. For the odours of ointments are more durable than those of flowers.

— Francis Bacon

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.

— Francis Bacon

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

— Francis Bacon

Fortune is like the market, where, many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.

— Francis Bacon

Ill Fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.

— Francis Bacon

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

— Francis Bacon

It is a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire and many things to fear.

— Francis Bacon

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

— Francis Bacon

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

— Francis Bacon

Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his grieves to his friend, but he grieveth the less.

— Francis Bacon

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.

— Francis Bacon

God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure.

— Francis Bacon

A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

— Francis Bacon

For my name and memory I leave to men's charitable speeches, and to foreign nations and the next ages.

— Francis Bacon

It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment.

— Francis Bacon

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

— Francis Bacon

Houses are built to live in, and not to look on; therefore let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had. Leave the goodly fabrics of houses, for beauty only, to the enchanted palaces of the poets; who build them with small cost.

— Francis Bacon

The person is a poor judge who by an action can be disgraced more in failing than they can be honored in succeeding.

— Francis Bacon

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

— Francis Bacon

Our humanity is a poor thing, except for the divinity that stirs within us.

— Francis Bacon

Imagination was given man to compensate for what he is not, and a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

— Francis Bacon

In every great time there is some one idea at work which is more powerful than any other, and which shapes the events of the time and determines their ultimate issues.

— Francis Bacon

Acorns were good until bread was found.

— Francis Bacon

As the births of living creatures, at first, are ill-shapen: so are all Innovations, which are the births of time.

— Francis Bacon

By indignities men come to dignities.

— Francis Bacon

God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.

— Francis Bacon

Next to religion, let your care be to promote justice.

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge is power.

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

— Francis Bacon

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

— Francis Bacon

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.

— Francis Bacon

Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability.

— Francis Bacon

Lies are sufficient to breed opinion, and opinion brings on substance.

— Francis Bacon

Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.

— Francis Bacon

For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

— Francis Bacon

Nuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.

— Francis Bacon

Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age, and old men's nurses. So as a man may have a quarrel to marry when he will.

— Francis Bacon

No man's fortune can be an end worthy of his being.

— Francis Bacon

Money makes a good servant, but a bad master.

— Francis Bacon

If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.

— Francis Bacon

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.

— Francis Bacon

Be not penny-wise. Riches have wings. Sometimes they fly away of themselves, and sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.

— Francis Bacon

Mysteries are due to secrecy.

— Francis Bacon

The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.

— Francis Bacon

The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.

— Francis Bacon

Nature is commanded by obeying her.

— Francis Bacon

Nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body, and it addeth no small reverence to men's manners and actions if they be not altogether open. Therefore set it down: That a habit of secrecy is both politic and moral.

— Francis Bacon

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

— Francis Bacon

Opportunity makes a thief.

— Francis Bacon