Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Quotes

• 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.

• 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.

• There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place.

• Ask counsel of both times-of the ancient time what is best, and of the latter time what is fittest.

• In this theater of man's life, it is reserved only for God and for angels to be lookers-on.

• Nature is a labyrinth in which the very haste you move with will make you lose your way.

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

• 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.

• Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.

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

• 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.