Francis Bacon quote: "The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other."

Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.
FRANCIS BACON

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.
FRANCIS BACON

There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not tr...
FRANCIS BACON

Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity...
FRANCIS BACON

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
FRANCIS BACON

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do giv...
FRANCIS BACON

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

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will content to begin with d...
FRANCIS BACON

Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.
FRANCIS BACON

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider...
FRANCIS BACON

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
FRANCIS BACON

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.
FRANCIS BACON

Religion brought forth riches, and the daughter devoured the mother. [Lat., Religio peperit divit...
FRANCIS BACON

The greatest vicissitude of things amongst men, is the vicissitude of sects and religions.
FRANCIS BACON

There was never law, or set, or opinion did so much magnify goodness, as the Christian religion dot...
FRANCIS BACON

But no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of Truth.
FRANCIS BACON

A little philosophy inclineth men's minds to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds ...
FRANCIS BACON

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
FRANCIS BACON

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.
FRANCIS BACON

Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.
FRANCIS BACON

Nothing destroys authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power, pressed too far...
FRANCIS BACON

One of the Seven was wont to say: "That laws were like cobwebs; where the small flies were caught,...
FRANCIS BACON

We cannot command nature except by obeying her.
FRANCIS BACON

Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the wise, the admiration of fools, the idols of paradise, and the...
FRANCIS BACON

Young men are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and fitter for...
FRANCIS BACON

Riches are a good handmaiden, but the worst mistress.
FRANCIS BACON

For knowledge, too, is itself a power. [Lat., Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.]
FRANCIS BACON

Knowledge bloweth up, but charity buildeth up.
FRANCIS BACON

Knowledge and human power are synonymous, since the ignorance of the cause frustrates the effect.
FRANCIS BACON

For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itsel...
FRANCIS BACON

If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.
FRANCIS BACON

So that every wand or staff of empire is forsooth curved at top. [Lat., Adeo ut omnes imperii virg...
FRANCIS BACON

States are great engines moving slowly.
FRANCIS BACON

They that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body;...
FRANCIS BACON

Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and soli...
FRANCIS BACON

The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused m...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.
FRANCIS BACON

The general root of superstition : namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss;...
FRANCIS BACON

Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.
FRANCIS BACON

If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to ...
FRANCIS BACON

No man's fortune can be an end worthy of his being.
FRANCIS BACON

Money makes a good servant, but a bad master.
FRANCIS BACON

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
FRANCIS BACON

Be not penny-wise. Riches have wings. Sometimes they fly away of themselves, and sometimes they must...
FRANCIS BACON

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the b...
FRANCIS BACON

Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.
FRANCIS BACON

Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friend...
FRANCIS BACON

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.
FRANCIS BACON

For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal,...
FRANCIS BACON

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

All of our actions take their hue from the complexion of the heart, as landscapes their variety from...
FRANCIS BACON

It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what ...
FRANCIS BACON

There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy...
FRANCIS BACON

Ask counsel of both timesof the ancient time what is best, and of the latter time what is fittest.
FRANCIS BACON

Croesus said to Cambyses; That peace was better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their f...
FRANCIS BACON

Nay, number itself in armies importeth not much, where the people is of weak courage; for, as Virgil...
FRANCIS BACON

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great ent...
FRANCIS BACON

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be de...
FRANCIS BACON

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom driv...
FRANCIS BACON

Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.
FRANCIS BACON

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

It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the...
FRANCIS BACON

Silence is the virtue of fools.
FRANCIS BACON

Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as ...
FRANCIS BACON

People of great position are servants times three, servants of their country, servants of fame, and ...
FRANCIS BACON

Science is but an image of the truth.
FRANCIS BACON

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and co...
FRANCIS BACON

Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason.
FRANCIS BACON

Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
FRANCIS BACON

A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.
FRANCIS BACON

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed...
FRANCIS BACON

The mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands.
FRANCIS BACON

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discou...
FRANCIS BACON

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discou...
FRANCIS BACON

I hold every man a debtor to his profession.
FRANCIS BACON

He that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils: for Time is the greatest innovator: and ...
FRANCIS BACON

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

All colors will agree in the dark.
FRANCIS BACON

Nothing destroys authority more than the unequal and untimely interchange of power stretched too far...
FRANCIS BACON

It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose pow...
FRANCIS BACON

It is as hard and severe a thing to be a true politician as to be truly moral.
FRANCIS BACON

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

Philosophers make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths, and their discourses are as the stars,...
FRANCIS BACON

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.
FRANCIS BACON

Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul.
FRANCIS BACON

Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwre...
FRANCIS BACON

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

The best armor is to keep out of gunshot.
FRANCIS BACON

Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosp...
FRANCIS BACON

Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.
FRANCIS BACON

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

Truth arises more readily from error than from confusion.
FRANCIS BACON

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

It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tost upon the sea: a pleasure to stand in...
FRANCIS BACON

Truth is a naked and open daylight
FRANCIS BACON

Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit...
FRANCIS BACON

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is reall...
FRANCIS BACON

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, o...
FRANCIS BACON

If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
FRANCIS BACON

Riches are for spending.
FRANCIS BACON

For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocency, except men know exactly a...
FRANCIS BACON

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

God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave...
FRANCIS BACON

It is not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save tha...
FRANCIS BACON

As the births of living creatures, at first, are ill-shapen: so are all Innovations, which are the b...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Our humanity is a poor thing, except for the divinity that stirs within us.
FRANCIS BACON

Opportunity makes a thief.
FRANCIS BACON

Nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body, and it addeth no small reverence to men's manners an...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Nature is commanded by obeying her.
FRANCIS BACON

This is the foundation of all. We are not to imagine or suppose, but to discover, what nature...
FRANCIS BACON

The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.
FRANCIS BACON

Mysteries are due to secrecy.
FRANCIS BACON

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially n...
FRANCIS BACON

In contemplation, if a man begins with certainties he shall end in doubts; but if he be content to b...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Suspicion amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they never fly by twilight.
FRANCIS BACON

There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little, and therefore men should remedy...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Cure the disease and kill the patient.
FRANCIS BACON

Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.
FRANCIS BACON

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

The great advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three. First to lay asleep opposition and t...
FRANCIS BACON

Lies are sufficient to breed opinion, and opinion brings on substance.
FRANCIS BACON

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

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more...
FRANCIS BACON

They that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; ...
FRANCIS BACON

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.
FRANCIS BACON

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet ...
FRANCIS BACON

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.
FRANCIS BACON

The person is a poor judge who by an action can be disgraced more in failing than they can be honore...
FRANCIS BACON

Houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformity.
FRANCIS BACON

It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and...
FRANCIS BACON

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, gra...
FRANCIS BACON

For my name and memory I leave to men's charitable speeches, and to foreign nations and the next age...
FRANCIS BACON

A healthy body is a guest chamber for the soul: a sick body is a prison.
FRANCIS BACON

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.
FRANCIS BACON

Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability.
FRANCIS BACON

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

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than conf...
FRANCIS BACON

For knowledge itself is power.
FRANCIS BACON

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.
FRANCIS BACON

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

The place of justice is a hallowed place.
FRANCIS BACON

If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.
FRANCIS BACON

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Fortune is like the market, where, many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.
FRANCIS BACON

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

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great ent...
FRANCIS BACON

Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.
FRANCIS BACON

Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, ...
FRANCIS BACON

Men on their side must force themselves for a while to lay their notions by and begin to familiarize...
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

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
FRANCIS BACON

Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
FRANCIS BACON

In charity there is no excess.
FRANCIS BACON

That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactl...
FRANCIS BACON

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

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council thoug...
FRANCIS BACON

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the ...
FRANCIS BACON

Images also help me find and realise ideas. I look at hundreds of very different, contrasting images...
FRANCIS BACON

In every great time there is some one idea at work which is more powerful than any other, and which ...
FRANCIS BACON

Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects and please or displease only in the memory.
FRANCIS BACON

Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.
FRANCIS BACON

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.
FRANCIS BACON

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

Small amounts of philosophy lead to atheism, but larger amounts bring us back to God.
FRANCIS BACON

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

It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringe...
FRANCIS BACON

I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this u...
FRANCIS BACON

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which...
FRANCIS BACON

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

He that gives good advice builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example builds with b...
FRANCIS BACON

There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend giveth, and that a man giveth himself,...
FRANCIS BACON

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

They that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.
FRANCIS BACON

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.
FRANCIS BACON

People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingraine...
FRANCIS BACON

God's first creature, which was light.
FRANCIS BACON

Speech of yourself ought to be seldom and well chosen.
FRANCIS BACON

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

The genius, wit, and the spirit of a nation are discovered by their proverbs.
FRANCIS BACON

A good conscience is a continual feast.
FRANCIS BACON

The wisdom of our ancestors.
FRANCIS BACON

Custom is the principle magistrate of man's life.
FRANCIS BACON

Men commonly think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and imbibed op...
FRANCIS BACON

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
FRANCIS BACON

Boldness is a child of ignorance.
FRANCIS BACON

Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; Adversity is the blessing of the New.
FRANCIS BACON

All authority must be out of a man's self, turned . . . either upon an art, or upon a man. - ...
FRANCIS BACON

The World's a bubble, and the Life of Man less than a span: In his conception wretched, from the w...
FRANCIS BACON

Men fear Death, as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increas...
FRANCIS BACON

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.

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Francis Bacon

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.

Francis Bacon

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