Francis Bacon Quotes

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

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

We see then how far the monuments of wit and learning are more durable than the monuments of power, or of the hands. For have not some books continued twenty-five hundred years or more, without the loss of a syllable or letter; during which time infinite palaces, temples, castles, and cities have been decayed and demolished?

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

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...

Truth is a naked and open daylight, that does not show the masques, and mummeries, and triumphs of the world, half so stately and daintily as candle-lights. . . A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure

But it is not only the difficulty and labor which men take in finding out of truth, nor again that when it is found it imposeth upon men's thoughts, that doth bring lies in favor; but a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself.

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

the serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Crafty men condemn studies; Simple men admire them; And wise men use them: For they teach not their own use: but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation.

God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.

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

Ipsa scientia potestas est.

Knowledge itself is power.

Wonder is the seed of knowledge

For the mind of man is far from the nature of a clear and equal glass, wherein the beams of things should reflect according to their true incidence; nay, it is rather like an enchanted glass, full of superstition and imposture, if it be not delivered and reduced.

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

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

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