Quotes from Francis Bacon

Of all the things in nature, the formation and endowment of man was singled out by the ancients.

One of the Seven [wise men of Greece] was wont to say: That laws were like cobwebs, where the small flies are caught and the great break through.

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

It cannot be denied that outward accidents conduce much to fortune, favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue; but chiefly, the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands

But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.

It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.

To say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men.

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 lame man who keeps the right road outstrips the runner who takes the wrong one.

Ill Fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men's heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.

Men suppose their reason has command over their words; still it happens that words in return exercise authority on reason

There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little, and therefore men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know more, and not keep their suspicions in smother.

The master of superstition, is the people; and in all superstition, wise men follow fools; and arguments are fitted to practice, in a reversed order.

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

In all superstition wise men follow fools.

Generally he perceived in men of devout simplicity this opinion: that the secrets of nature were the secrets of God, part of that glory into which man is not to press too boldly.

Certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.

When a bee stings, she dies. She cannot sting and live. When men sting, their better selves die. Every sting kills a better instinct. Men must not turn bees and kill themselves in stinging others.

There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little.

There is no such flatterer as is a man's self.

There is no vice that doth so cover a man with shame as to be found false and perfidious.