Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Quotes

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

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

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

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

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

• 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.

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

• There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom

• 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.

• Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

• The job of the artist is to deepen the mystery.

• Silence is the virtue of fools.

• By far the best proof is experience.