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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.

“He that gives good advice, builds with one hand he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.”

— Francis Bacon

Good

All Quotes by Francis Bacon

“Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.”

— Francis Bacon

Strength

“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not a sense of humor to console him for what he is.”

— Francis Bacon

Humor

“I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.”

— Francis Bacon

Age

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words.”

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge

“He that gives good advice, builds with one hand he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.”

— Francis Bacon

Good

“Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.”

— Francis Bacon

Men

“Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.”

— Francis Bacon

Truth

“God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.”

— Francis Bacon

God

“Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.”

— Francis Bacon

Change

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

— Francis Bacon

Men

“I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.”

— Francis Bacon

Death

“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 root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.”

— Francis Bacon

Men

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

— Francis Bacon

Beauty

“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

“Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.”

— Francis Bacon

Age

“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.”

— Francis Bacon

Change

“Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread.”

— Francis Bacon

Money

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

— Francis Bacon

Nature