Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
Sir Francis Bacon Quotations
We found 78 matching quotations.
By far the best proof is experience.
If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.
Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.
It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant perhaps the one is as painful as the other.
If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.
Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other.
Houses are built to live in, not to look on therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.
Man seeketh in society comfort, use and protection.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
Death is a friend of ours and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.
Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.
I have taken all knowledge to by my province.
A prudent question is one half of wisdom.
Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
We cannot command nature except by obeying her.
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Read not to contradict and confute?nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
For there is no question but a just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of war.
It is as natural to die as to be born and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other.
He of whom many are afraid ought to fear many.
We read that we ought to forgive our enemies but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.
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.
It is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one.
Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.
When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath travelled altogether behind him.
I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.
Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
There is little friendship in the world, and least of all between equals.
The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
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.
The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.
Universities incline wits to sophistry and affectation.
Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul. Men must not turn into bees, and kill themselves in stinging others.
Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.
Knowledge is power.
(Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est)
(Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est)
In charity there is no excess.
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.
Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to the more ought law to weed it out.
Many secrets of art and nature are thought by the unlearned to be magical.
The world's a bubble and the life of man Less than a span.
The job of the artist is to deepen the mystery.
It is impossible to love and to be wise.
There are times of pure joy when you wish all human life well.
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Silence is the virtue of fools.
A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth man's minds about to religion.
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.
The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies.
Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.
Nothing is more damaging to a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.
Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.
Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
Nothing is to be feared but fear.
Never exaggerate your faults. Your friends will attend to that.
Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason.
A good life is a series of joyful meetings and joyful moments.
Natural abilities are like natural plants they need pruning by study.
No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of Truth.
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy but in passing it over, he is superior.
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
Dolendi modus, timendi non item.
(To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.)
(To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.)
Believe not much them that seem to despise riches, for they despise them that despair of them.
Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain that the virtuous.
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.