Quotes from Francis Bacon

Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite.

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

Be so true to thyself, as thou be not false to others.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

It is the wisdom of the crocodiles, that shed tears when they would devour.

What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.

Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appears to be best in four things—old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.

Knowledge is power [Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est].

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.

Chiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.

Cure the disease and kill the patient.

Wise men make more opportunities than they find.

So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again.

The greatest vicissitude of things amongst men is the vicissitude of sects and religions.

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

Young people are fitter to invent than to judge fitter for execution than for counsel and more fit for new projects than for settled business.

Princes are like to heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration but no rest.

I bequeath my soul to God… My body to be buried obscurely. For my name and memory, I leave it to men's charitable speeches, and to foreign nations, and the next age.

Science is but an image of the truth.

Acorns were good until bread was found.

I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.

God's first creature, which was light.

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