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Francis Bacon

74 quotes

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, and essayist who is widely regarded as the father of the scientific method. His *Essays*, covering topics from truth and death to gardens and studies, are masterpieces of concise, penetrating English prose that have been quoted continuously for over four centuries.

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“The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.”

— Francis Bacon

Beauty

All Quotes by Francis Bacon

“A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner.”

— Francis Bacon

Life

“But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.”

— Francis Bacon

God

“Acorns were good until bread was found.”

— Francis Bacon

Good

“We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.”

— Francis Bacon

Nature

“People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom.”

— Francis Bacon

Learning

“By indignities men come to dignities.”

— Francis Bacon

Men

“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.”

— Francis Bacon

Death

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

— Francis Bacon

Nature

“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.”

— Francis Bacon

Business

“Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.”

— Francis Bacon

Age

“The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.”

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge

“Friends are thieves of time.”

— Francis Bacon

Time

“Wise men make more opportunities than they find.”

— Francis Bacon

Men

“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience.”

— Francis Bacon

Education

“Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.”

— Francis Bacon

Truth

“It is impossible to love and to be wise.”

— Francis Bacon

Love

“Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.”

— Francis Bacon

Experience

“If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.”

— Francis Bacon

Science

“Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes adversity not without many comforts and hopes.”

— Francis Bacon

Fear

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

— Francis Bacon

Imagination