Quotes from Francis Bacon

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.

We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.

Even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself whether that day or the next he will draw nigh.

The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall.

Who questions much, shall learn much, and retain much.

Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.

Speech of yourself ought to be seldom and well chosen.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

Acorns were good till bread was found.

[Science is] the labor and handicraft of the mind.

The result is often disappointing, but the process is highly exciting.

The mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands.

Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.

Boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not dangers and inconveniences.

Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon.

Truth is a naked and open daylight, that doth not shew the masks and mummeries and triumphs of the world, half so stately and daintily as candlelights.

It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed.

Art is man added to Nature.

Riches are a good handmaid, but the worst mistress.

Nothing is terrible except fear itself.

In charity there is no excess.

It is a strange desire, to seek power and to lose liberty.

Important families are like potatoes. The best parts are underground.