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
according act commonly custom generally learning men speak
Men commonly think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions, but generally act according to custom
caused curious delight fruitful labour large leave natural rich speak time wander
When you wander, as you often delight to do, you wander indeed, and give never such satisfaction as the curious time requires. This is not caused by any natural defect, but first for want of election, when you, having a large and fruitful mind, should not so much labour what to speak as to find what to leave unspoken. Rich soils are often to be weeded.
hyperbole love perpetual speaking
The speaking in perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but love
order speech speak
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.
book speak counselor
Books speak plain when counselors blanch.
thinking action speak
We think according to nature. We speak according to rules. We act according to custom.
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
cannot pack
There be that can pack the cards, and yet cannot play well.
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?
cannot reads sleeping thoughts
We cannot too often think there is a never sleeping eye, which reads the heart, and registers our thoughts
living
As the births of living creatures, at first, are ill-shapen: so are all Innovations, which are the births of time.