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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 hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.”

— Francis Bacon

Great

All Quotes by Francis Bacon

“Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.”

— Francis Bacon

History

“God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.”

— Francis Bacon

Gardening

“Next to religion, let your care be to promote justice.”

— Francis Bacon

Religion

“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

“Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.”

— Francis Bacon

Best

“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

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

— Francis Bacon

Experience

“What is truth? said jesting Pilate and would not stay for an answer.”

— Francis Bacon

Truth

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

— Francis Bacon

Beauty

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words.”

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge

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

— Francis Bacon

Age

“When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.”

— Francis Bacon

Great

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

— Francis Bacon

God

“Friends are thieves of time.”

— Francis Bacon

Time

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”

— Francis Bacon

Wisdom

“Acorns were good until bread was found.”

— Francis Bacon

Good

“Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.”

— Francis Bacon

Hope

“The great end of life is not knowledge but action.”

— Francis Bacon

Great

“Knowledge is power.”

— Francis Bacon

Knowledge

“Age appears to be best in four things old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”

— Francis Bacon

Age