Francis Bacon Quotes
The zeal which begins with hypocrisy must conclude in treachery at first it deceives, at last it betrays
Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.
The End of our Foundation is the knowledge of Causes; and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of Human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible.
Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.
I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
As the births of living creatures at first are ill-shapen, so are all innovations, which are the births of time.
Let no one think or maintain that a person can search too far or be too well studied in either the book of God's word or the book of God's works.
In all negotiations of difficulty, a man may not look to sow and reap at once; but must prepare business, and so ripen it by degrees.
When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
It cannot be denied that outward accidents conduce much to fortune, favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue; but chiefly, the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands
Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.
Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.
Houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformity.
A forbidden writing is thought to be a certain spark of truth, that flies up in the face of them who seek to tread it out.
If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again.
To say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men.
It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.
But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
Do not wonder if the common people speak more truly than those above them: they speak more safely.
For the chain of causes cannot by any force be loosed or broken, nor can nature be commanded except by being obeyed.
Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.
Journeys at youth are part of the education; but at maturity, are part of the experience.
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.
Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit for new projects than for settled business.
Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.
It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.
