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
serve studies
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
bad breakfast good hope
Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.
bad good money
Money makes a good servant, but a bad master.
bear begin doubts
If we begin with certainties, we will end in doubt. But if we begin with doubts and bear them patiently, we may end in certainty.
dust fly sat tree wheel
It was prettily devised of Aesop, ""The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!
angels caused charity danger desire excess knowledge man neither power
The desire for power in excess caused angels to fall; the desire for knowledge in excess caused man to fall; but in charity is no excess, neither can man or angels come into danger by it
authority grave ought severity
Severity breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth hate. Even reproofs from authority ought to be grave and not taunting.
borrow cunning man name point seen speech
In things that a man would not be seen in himself, it is a point of cunning to borrow the name of the world; as to say, ""The world says,"" or ""There is a speech abroad.
leave remain running stagnant stream sweet thou wisdom
If thou would'st have that stream of hard-earn'd knowledge, of Wisdom heaven-born, remain sweet running waters, thou should'st not leave it to become a stagnant pond.
except good money
Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
less life man
The world 's a bubble, and the life of man less than a span.
begins betrays conclude hypocrisy last zeal
The zeal which begins with hypocrisy must conclude in treachery; at first it deceives, at last it betrays
age age-and-aging appears authors best four wine wood
Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.
angels god life men reserved theater
But men must know, that in this theater of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on