Francis Bacon quotes - page 11

The sun, which passeth through pollutions and itself remains as pure as before. (Francis Bacon)
It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed. View quote
Francis Bacon
For the inquisition of Final Causes is barren, and like a virgin consecrated to God produces nothing. View quote
Francis Bacon
It was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that "The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.”. View quote
Francis Bacon
Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that 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. View quote
Francis Bacon
Credulity in arts and opinions... is likewise of two kinds viz., when men give too much belief to arts themselves, or to certain authors in any art. The sciences that sway the imagination more than the reason are principally three viz., astrology, natural magic, and alchemy... Alchemy may be compared to the man who told his sons that he had left them gold, buried somewhere in his vineyard; while they by digging found no gold, but by turning up the mould about the roots of the vines procured a plentiful vintage. So the search and endeavours to make gold have brought many useful inventions to light. View quote
Francis Bacon
The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together: so it is a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate. View quote
Francis Bacon
God's first creature, which was light. View quote
Francis Bacon
People have discovered that they can fool the devil; but they can't fool the neighbors. View quote
Francis Bacon
There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend giveth, and that a man giveth himself, as there is between the counsel of a friend and of a flatterer. For there is no such flatterer as is a man's self. View quote
Francis Bacon
Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use. (Francis Bacon)
Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue. View quote
Francis Bacon
If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics. View quote
Francis Bacon
Sacred and inspired divinity, the sabaoth and port of all men's labours and peregrinations. View quote
Francis Bacon
Seek first the virtues of the mind; and other things either will come, or will not be wanted. View quote
Francis Bacon
They that deny a God destroy mans nobility for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body and, if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature. View quote
Francis Bacon
Intermingle . . . jest with earnest. View quote
Francis Bacon
God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. View quote
Francis Bacon
Certainly it is the nature of extreme self-lovers, as they will set an house on fire, and it were but to roast their eggs. View quote
Francis Bacon
For my name and memory, I leave it to men's charitable speeches, to foreign nations, and to the next ages. View quote
Francis Bacon
It hath been an opinion that the French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are but howsoever it be between nations, certainly it is so between man and man. (Francis Bacon)
A well-written Book, compared with its Rivals and Antagonists, is like Moses's Serpent, that immediately swallow'd up and devoured those of the Ægyptians. View quote
Francis Bacon
God never wrought miracle, to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. View quote
Francis Bacon
It is an assured sign of a worthy and generous spirit, whom honor amends. For honor is, or should be, the place of virtue and as in nature, things move violently to their place, and calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled and calm. All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self, whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed. View quote
Francis Bacon
There are four classes of Idols which beset men's minds. View quote
Francis Bacon