Quotes By Francis Bacon

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

The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together: so it is a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate.

Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.

Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.

Friends are thieves of time.

Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words.

Knowledge is power.

If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us.

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.

The great end of life is not knowledge but action.

A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.

In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.

Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.

The pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon.

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

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

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

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.

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.

Houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformity.

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.

A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner.

I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a Mind.

God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.

A man must make his opportunity, as oft as find it.

If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.

When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.