Francis Bacon
English philosopher, lawyer and statesman (1561 to 1626); lord chancellor from 1618 to 1621; author of the Essays and the Novum organum.
Francis Bacon did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsBut howsoever these things are thus in men's depraved judgments, and affections, yet truth, which only doth judge itself, teacheth that the inquiry of truth, which is the love-making, or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, is the sovereign good of human nature.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 1st of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsREVENGE is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 2nd of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsHE THAT hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 3rd of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
A little philosophy inclines the mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy brings it back to religion
Their wordsIt is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 4th of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsSurely every medicine is an innovation; and he that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator; and if time of course alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better, what shall be the end?
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 5th of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsFor a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 6th of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsBut Machiavel knew not of a Friar Clement, nor a Ravillac, nor a Jaureguy, nor a Baltazar Gerard; yet his rule holdeth still, that nature, nor the engagement of words, are not so forcible, as custom.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 7th of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
Some books should be sampled, some read through, and a few read wholly with close attention
Their wordsSome 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.
↗The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625 edition)gutenberg.org 8th of 8 in this piece
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