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Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban KC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), son of Nicholas Bacon by his second wife Anne (Cooke) Bacon, was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, and author. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Although his...
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In thinking, if a person begins with certainties, they shall end in doubts, but if they can begin with doubts, they will end in certainties.

In thinking, if a person begins with certainties, they shall end in doubts, but if they can begin with doubts, they will end in certainties.

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The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.

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To choose time is to save time.

To choose time is to save time.

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It is a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire and many things to fear.

It is a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire and many things to fear.

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God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure.

God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure.

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

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

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Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

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For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocence, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent: his baseness and going upon his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, and the rest; that is, all forms and natures of evil: for without this, virtue lieth open and unfenced.

For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocence, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent: his baseness and going upon his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, and the rest; that is, all forms and natures of evil: for without this, virtue lieth open and unfenced.

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I hold every man a debtor to his profession.

I hold every man a debtor to his profession.

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Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

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A good conscience is a continual feast.

A good conscience is a continual feast.

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To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

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Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

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Mysteries are due to secrecy.

Mysteries are due to secrecy.

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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.

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.

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Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.

Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.

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I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a Mind.

I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a Mind.

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

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

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Of great wealth there is no real use, except in its distribution, the rest is just conceit.

Of great wealth there is no real use, except in its distribution, the rest is just conceit.

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Nuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.

Nuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.

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Silence is the virtue of fools.

Silence is the virtue of fools.

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All colors will agree in the dark.

All colors will agree in the dark.

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Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

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The great advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three. First to lay asleep opposition and to surprise. For where a man's intentions are published, it is an alarum to call up all that are against them. The second is to reserve a man's self a fair retreat: for if a man engage himself, by a manifest declaration, he must go through, or take a fall. The third is, the better to discover the mind of another. For to him that opens himself, men will hardly show themselves adverse; but will fair let him go on, and turn their freedom of speech to freedom of thought.

The great advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three. First to lay asleep opposition and to surprise. For where a man's intentions are published, it is an alarum to call up all that are against them. The second is to reserve a man's self a fair retreat: for if a man engage himself, by a manifest declaration, he must go through, or take a fall. The third is, the better to discover the mind of another. For to him that opens himself, men will hardly show themselves adverse; but will fair let him go on, and turn their freedom of speech to freedom of thought.

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

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

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This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

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Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

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God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

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Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.

Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.

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Opportunity makes a thief.

Opportunity makes a thief.

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The place of justice is a hallowed place.

The place of justice is a hallowed place.

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If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.

If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.

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Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.

Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.

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It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment.

It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment.

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None of the affections have been noted to fascinate and bewitch but envy.

None of the affections have been noted to fascinate and bewitch but envy.

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The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grieves and fears.

The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grieves and fears.

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

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

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It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!

It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!

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

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

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Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

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There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place.

There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place.

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

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

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

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

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A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

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He that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils: for Time is the greatest innovator: and if Time, of course, alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better, what shall be the end?.

He that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils: for Time is the greatest innovator: and if Time, of course, alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better, what shall be the end?.

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I would live to study, and not study to live.

I would live to study, and not study to live.

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

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

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

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

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Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.

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Some books are to be tasted; others to be swallowed; and some few to be chewed and digested.

Some books are to be tasted; others to be swallowed; and some few to be chewed and digested.

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Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

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Young men are fitter to invent, than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for new projects than for settled business; Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end, without consideration of the means and degrees; pursue some few principles which they have chanced upon absurdly; care not to innovate, which draws unknown inconveniences; use extreme remedies at first; and that, which doubleth all errors, will not acknowledge or retract them, like an unruly horse, that will neither stop nor turn. Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

Young men are fitter to invent, than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for new projects than for settled business; Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end, without consideration of the means and degrees; pursue some few principles which they have chanced upon absurdly; care not to innovate, which draws unknown inconveniences; use extreme remedies at first; and that, which doubleth all errors, will not acknowledge or retract them, like an unruly horse, that will neither stop nor turn. Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

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Look to make your course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect.

Look to make your course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect.

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The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body.

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body.

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Ill Fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.

Ill Fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.

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There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

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Knowledge is power.

Knowledge is power.

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Anger makes dull men witty -- but it keeps them poor.

Anger makes dull men witty -- but it keeps them poor.

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That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactly the same, is sufficiently certain.

That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactly the same, is sufficiently certain.

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

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

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