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Quotes by Sir Francis Bacon

English author, courtier, & philosopher (1561 - 1626)

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

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

Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.

Man seeketh in society comfort, use and protection.

Knowledge is power.

There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom

Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.

Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, But depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

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

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

The job of the artist is to deepen the mystery.

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

Silence is the virtue of fools.

Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.

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.

Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.

In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.

By far the best proof is experience.

He of whom many are afraid ought to fear many.

Knowledge is power. (Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est)

I have taken all knowledge to be my province.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to the more ought law to weed it out.

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.

The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.

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

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

In charity there is no excess.

For there is no question but a just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of war.

Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.

Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.

Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.

Dolendi modus, timendi non item. (To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.)

A little philosophy inclineth men's minds toward atheism; but depth of philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

A little philosophy inclineth men's minds toward atheism, but depth of philosophy bringeth men's minds about again to religion.

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

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

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

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.

A prudent question is one half of wisdom.

Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul. Men must not turn into bees, and kill themselves in stinging others.

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

Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain than the virtuous.

A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.