Francis Bacon – Page 3

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, even if religion vanished; but religious superstition dismounts all these and erects an absolute monarchy in the minds of men. – Francis Bacon

The best armor is to keep out of gunshot. – Francis Bacon

Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress. – Francis Bacon

The fortune which nobody sees makes a person happy and unenvied. – Francis Bacon

Truth arises more readily from error than from confusion. – Francis Bacon

Truth is a naked and open daylight – Francis Bacon

Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety. – Francis Bacon

Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. – Francis Bacon

Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue. – Francis Bacon

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. – Francis Bacon

Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason. – Francis Bacon

Who questions much, shall learn much, and retain much. – Francis Bacon

A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open. – Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. – Francis Bacon

The mould of a mans fortune is in his own hands. – Francis Bacon

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?. – Francis Bacon

Philosophers make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths, and their discourses are as the stars, which give little light because they are so high. – Francis Bacon

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do. – Francis Bacon

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of mans body. – Francis Bacon

It is as hard and severe a thing to be a true politician as to be truly moral. – Francis Bacon