Quotes from Francis Bacon

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.

Next to religion, let your care be to promote justice.

All good moral philosophy is ... but the handmaid to religion.

When any of the four pillars of government-religion, justice, counsel, and treasure-are mainly shaken or weakened, men had need to pray for fair weather.

Religion brought forth riches, and the daughter devoured the mother.

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

Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of Man.

He that cometh to seek after knowledge, with a mind to scorn, shall be sure to find matter for his humour, but no matter for his instruction.

It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else, and still unknown to himself.

I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province.

Salomon saith, There is no new thing upon the earth. So that as Plato had an imagination, that all knowledge was but remembrance; so Salomon giveth his sentence, that all novelty is but oblivion.

For knowledge, too, is itself power.

For whatever deserves to exist deserves also to be known, for knowledge is the image of existence, and things mean and splendid exist alike.

The images of mens wits and knowledge remain in books. They generate still, and cast their seeds in the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding ages

A king that would not feel his crown too heavy for him, must wear it every day; but if he think it too light, he knoweth not of what metal it is made.

Knowledge itself is power

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.

Disciples do owe their masters only a temporary belief, and a suspension of their own judgment till they be fully instructed.

Learning teaches how to carry things in suspense, without prejudice, till you resolve it.

Life is a marshmallow, easy to chew but hard to swallow.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.

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.

Let the mind be enlarged... to the grandeur of the mysteries, and not the mysteries contracted to the narrowness of the mind