Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Francis Bacon (English Philosopher)

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was a great English natural philosopher, statesman, and pioneer of modern scientific thought. Bacon’s abundant writing spanned scientific methodology, religion, moral philosophy, and judicial administration.

Bacon started his political career at age 23 when he became a Member of Parliament. He opposed Queen Elizabeth I’s tax program, fell out of her favor, and encountered difficulty advancing his career. After James I acceded the throne in 1603, Bacon’s career flourished; he ultimately rose to become the Lord Chancellor, one of Britain’s highest political offices. However, his political career ended in disgrace in 1621 when the British Parliament incriminated him for accepting bribes and banished him from holding public office. King James I revoked Bacon’s sentence and allowed him to write in retirement.

Bacon’s real interests lay in science. He challenged the Aristotelian notion that scientific truth could be reached through an authoritative argument (wherein knowledgeable people discuss a subject long enough to ascertain the truth eventually.) In his early text, Cogitata et Visa (1607,) Bacon first proposed the idea of inductive reasoning. And in his best-known work, Novum Organum (1620,) Bacon not only advocated observable evidence and rational investigation but also promoted the dismissal of hypotheses founded on incomplete and insufficient proof. His philosophy, now known as the scientific method, has since been the basis of all experimental science.

Interestingly, Bacon’s scientific method ultimately took his life. When journeying in the snow-filled countryside one day, Bacon hit upon the idea of using snow to preserve meat. To test his hypothesis, Bacon purchased a fowl and stuffed it with snow. Later that day, he developed a cold that advanced into pneumonia and killed him.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Francis Bacon

When he wrote a letter, he would put that which was most material in the postscript, as if it had been a by-matter.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Letters

Round dealing is the honor of man’s nature; and a mixture of falsehood is like alloy in gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it.
—Francis Bacon

It is said of untrue valors, that some men’s valors are in the eyes of them that look on.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Valor

There never was law, or sect, or opinion did so much magnify goodness as the Christian religion doth.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Goodness, Religion, Christianity

Wives are young men’s mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men’s nurses.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Marriage, Wife, Society

If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Money

Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Past, The Past

It were better to have no opinion of God at all, than such an opinion, as is unworthy of him. For the one is unbelief, the other is contumely; and certainly superstition is the reproach of the Deity.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: God, Superstition

I cannot call riches by a better name than the “baggage” of virtue; the Roman word is better, “impediment.” For as the baggage is to an army, so are riches to virtue. It cannot be spared or left behind, and yet it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of great riches there is no real use, except in the distribution; the rest is but conceit.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Conceit, Vanity, Riches

None of the affections have been noted to fascinate and bewitch but envy.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Envy

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Hope

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men’s heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Doubt

Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Strength

The mould of a man’s fortune is in his own hands.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Fortune, Responsibility

The monuments of wit survive the monuments of power.
—Francis Bacon

Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man’s self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Envy

The illiberality of parents, in allowance toward their children, is a harmful error, and makes them base; acquaints them with shirts; makes them sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty; and therefore the proof is best when men keep their authority toward their children, but not their purse.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Parents

The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Nation, Nationalities, Nationalism, Nationality

Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Wisdom

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Ability, Growth

Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Family

The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Friendship, Solitude

Atheism is rather in the life than in the heart of man.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Atheism

Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Virtue

The result is often disappointing, but the process is highly exciting.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Excitement

Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Doubt, Philosophy

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Vision

There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend giveth, and that a man giveth himself, as there is between the counsel of a friend and of a flatterer. For there is no such flatterer as is a man’s self.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Advice

Seek not proud wealth; but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly, yet have not any abstract or friarly contempt of it.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Wealth, Desire, Blessings, Appreciation, Gratitude

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.
—Francis Bacon
Topics: Friendship

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *