Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban PC KCwas an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and author. He served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. After his death, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth21 January 1561
cannot pack
There be that can pack the cards, and yet cannot play well.
cannot reads sleeping thoughts
We cannot too often think there is a never sleeping eye, which reads the heart, and registers our thoughts
cannot certain government hearts hold hopes sign wise
It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding that it can hold men's hearts by hopes when it cannot by satisfaction
admiration cannot discretion good hold man proportion
It is good discretion not to make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion
cannot joys nor parents utter
The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears: they cannot utter the one, nor will they utter the other
cannot covetous man money possess properly thy
If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.
cannot discovery greater nature since subtlety suffice
Argumentation cannot suffice for the discovery of new work, since the subtlety of Nature is greater many times than the subtlety of argument.
cannot case enemy friend man son speak whereas wife
A man cannot speak to his son but as a father, to his wife but as a husband, to his enemy but upon terms; whereas a friend may speak as the case requires, and not as it sorteth with the person.
friends-or-friendship joys man
Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his grieves to his friend, but he grieveth the less.
busy easy fertile goods great men nation three
There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place
arises error readily truth
Truth arises more readily from error than from confusion.
double single
What is it then to have or have no wife, / But single thraldom, or a double strife?
living
As the births of living creatures, at first, are ill-shapen: so are all Innovations, which are the births of time.
angels god life men reserved theater
But men must know, that in this theater of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on