Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban PC KCwas an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and author. He served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. After his death, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth21 January 1561
custom magistrate principal
Custom is the principal magistrate of man's life.
doubt excites thoroughly
Philosophy, when superficially studied, excites doubt; when thoroughly explored, it dispels it
bear matter prevent surest
The surest way to prevent seditions (if the times do bear it) is to take away the matter of them.
almighty god human purest
God Almighty first planted a garden; and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
hyperbole love perpetual speaking
The speaking in perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but love
add doth lie mixture pleasure
A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.
good riches worst
Riches are a good handmaiden, but the worst mistress.
good mistress riches worst
Riches are a good handmaid, but the worst mistress
begin certainty content man shall
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts: but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.
artist job mystery
The job of the artist is to deepen the mystery
begin force men notions side themselves
Men on their side must force themselves for a while to by their notions by and begin to familiarize themselves with facts.
divinity humanity poor within
Our humanity were a poor thing were it not for the divinity which stirs within us
crowd faces gallery pictures
A crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures
great men servants sovereign
Men in great place are thrice servants, - servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.