Quotes from Francis Bacon

Philosophers make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths, and their discourses are as the stars, which give little light because they are so high.

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

It is as hard and severe a thing to be a true politician as to be truly moral.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess; neither can angel nor man come in danger by it.

God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.

God's first creature, which was light.

Let no one think or maintain that a person can search too far or be too well studied in either the book of God's word or the book of God's works.

God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.

God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it.

I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that rewards me, God reward him. If I do grow great, I'll grow less; for I'll purge, and leave sack, and live cleanly, as a nobleman should do.

He who desires solitude is either an animal or a god.

There was never miracle wrought by God to convert an atheist, because the light of nature might have led him to confess a God.

It is left only to God and to the angels to be lookers on.

It was a high speech of Seneca that "The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired."

Great changes are easier than small ones.

They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations.

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

Before I start painting I have a slightly ambiguous feeling: happiness is a special excitement because unhappiness is always possible a moment later.

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.

Images also help me find and realise ideas. I look at hundreds of very different, contrasting images and I pinch details from them, rather like people who eat from other people's plates.

Riches are for spending, and spending for honor and good actions; therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion.

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

I have to hope that my instincts will do the right thing, because I can't erase what I have done. And if I drew something first, then my paintings would be illustrations of drawings.