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
certainly extreme house nature roast
Certainly it is the nature of extreme self-lovers, as they will set an house on fire, and it were but to roast their eggs.
certainly charity heaven mind move poles rest turn
Certainly it is a heaven upon earth, to have a man's mind to move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.
base beasts body certainly creature deny destroy god kin man
They that deny a God destroy man's nobility, for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he is not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature
certainly french hath man opinion seem spaniards wiser
It hath been an opinion that the French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are; but howsoever it be between nations, certainly it is so between man and man
begin certainty patient shall
If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.
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
begin certainty content man shall
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.
change matter certain
That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactly the same, is sufficiently certain.
counsel execution good great unless
In counsel it is good to see dangers; but in execution not to see them unless they be very great
begins content man shall
In contemplation, if a man begins with certainties he shall end in doubts; but if he be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.
boldness child civil ignorance
In civil business; what first? Boldness; what second, and third? Boldness. And yet boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness.
serve studies
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
belief best faithful health mind
The best preservative to keep the mind on health is the faithful admonition of a friend.
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.