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Francis Bacon Quotes

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Francis Bacon: English philosopher, statesman and essayist, 1561 to 1626.

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

Francis Bacon

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

Francis Bacon

Books will speak plain when counsellors blanch.

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

Opportunity makes a thief.

Francis Bacon

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

Francis Bacon

Nature cannot be ordered about, except by obeying her.

Francis Bacon · The source reads: “Naturae enim non imperatur, nisi parendo. Nature cannot be ordered about, except by obeying her.”

Such is the way of all superstition, whether in astrology, dreams, omens, divine judgments, or the like; wherein men, having a delight in such vanities, mark the events where they are fulfilled, but where they fail, though this happen much oftener, neglect and pass them by.

Francis Bacon · The source reads: “And such is the way of all superstition, whether in astrology, dreams, omens, divine judgments, or the like; wherein men, having a delight in such vanities, mark the events where they are fulfilled, but where they fail, though this happen much oftener, neglect and pass them by.” · Novum Organum, aphorism 46

Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.

Francis Bacon

But men must know that in this theater of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.

Francis Bacon · The Advancement of Learning, II, xx, 8

I hold every man a debtor to his profession.

Francis Bacon

There is commonly less money, less wisdom, and less good faith than men do account upon.

Francis Bacon · The Advancement of Learning, II, xxiii, 20

It is not the lie that passeth through the mind, but the lie that sinketh in, and settleth in it, that doth the hurt.

Francis Bacon

The world’s a bubble, and the life of man Less than a span.

Francis Bacon · The World (1629)

I have taken all knowledge to be my province.

Francis Bacon · Letter to Lord Burleigh (1592)

Riches are a good handmaid, but the worst mistress.

Francis Bacon

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

Francis Bacon

The remedy is worse than the disease.

Francis Bacon

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

Francis Bacon

Age will not be defied.

Francis Bacon

Virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.

Francis Bacon · From the essay on adversity.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.

Francis Bacon · Essays. Of Studies

Light gains make heavy purses.

Francis Bacon

For what a man would like to be true, that he more readily believes.

Francis Bacon · The source reads: “Quod enim mavult homo verum esse, id potius credit. For what a man would like to be true, that he more readily believes.”

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