FRANCIS BACON QUOTES IV

English philosopher (1561-1626)

For there are in nature certain fountains of justice whence all civil laws are derived but as streams; and like as waters do take tinctures and tastes from the soils through which they run, so do civil laws vary according to the regions and governments where they are planted, though they proceed from the same fountains.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: justice


For it utterly betrayeth all utility for men to embark themselves too far into unfortunate friendships, troublesome spleens, and childish and humorous envies or emulations.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: humorous


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

FRANCIS BACON

"An Essay on Death," The Remaines of the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam (Bacon's authorship of this essay has been disputed by some historians.)

Tags: death


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

FRANCIS BACON

Essays

Tags: innovation


There is in man's nature a secret inclination and motion towards love of others, which, if it be not spent upon some one or a few, doth naturally spread itself towards many, and maketh men become humane and charitable, as it is seen sometimes in friars. Nuptial love maketh mankind, friendly love perfecteth it, but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it.

FRANCIS BACON

Essays

Tags: love


The stage is more beholding to love than the life of man. For as to the stage, love is ever matter of comedies and now and then of tragedies; but in life it doth much mischief, sometimes like a Siren, sometimes like a Fury.

FRANCIS BACON

Essays

Tags: love


The monuments of wit survive the monuments of power.

FRANCIS BACON

Essex's Device

Tags: wit


Medicine is a science which hath been (as we have said) more professed than laboured, and yet more laboured than advanced; the labour having been, in my judgment, rather in circle than in progression.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: science


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

FRANCIS BACON

Essays

Tags: desire


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

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Delays," Essays

Tags: fortune


And for matter of policy and government, that learning, should rather hurt, than enable thereunto, is a thing very improbable.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: learning


Time ... is the author of authors.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: time


The folly of one man, is the fortune of another. For no man prospers so suddenly, as by others' errors.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Fortune", The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Tags: fortune


So we see, in languages, the tongue is more pliant to all expressions and sounds, the joints are more supple, to all feats of activity and motions, in youth than afterwards. For it is true, that late learners cannot so well take the ply; except it be in some minds, that have not suffered themselves to fix, but have kept themselves open, and prepared to receive continual amendment, which is exceeding rare.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Custom And Education", The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Tags: youth


So in most things men are ready to abuse themselves in thinking the greatest means to be best, when it should be the fittest.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: Men


No body can be healthful without exercise, neither natural body nor politic; and certainly to a kingdom or estate, a just and honorable war, is the true exercise. A civil war, indeed, is like the heat of a fever; but a foreign war is like the heat of exercise, and serveth to keep the body in health; for in a slothful peace, both courages will effeminate, and manners corrupt.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of the True Greatness Of Kingdoms And Estates", The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Tags: exercise


Men’s weaknesses and faults are best known from their enemies.

FRANCIS BACON

The Advancement of Learning

Tags: enemies


It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed.

FRANCIS BACON

Novum Organum


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.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Youth and Age", Essays; or Counsels Civil and Moral

Tags: youth


Discretion of speech, is more than eloquence.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Discourse," Essays