122 Quotes By Francis Bacon


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.
Francis Bacon on wisdom

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.
Francis Bacon on wisdom

Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.
Francis Bacon on women

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
Francis Bacon on ability

Prosperity is not without many fears and distaste; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
Francis Bacon on adversity

Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Francis Bacon on adversity

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

Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance; but if it light well, it makes virtue shine and vice blush.
Francis Bacon on beauty

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.
Francis Bacon on beauty

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.
Francis Bacon on change

The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together: so it is a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate.
Francis Bacon on fortune

Friends are thieves of time.
Francis Bacon on friendship

Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing.
Francis Bacon on goodness

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.
Francis Bacon on health

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.
Francis Bacon on justice

If a man will begin with certainties, he will end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he will end in certainties.
Francis Bacon on knowledge

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
Francis Bacon on literature

Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.
Francis Bacon on marriage

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.
Francis Bacon on nature

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