Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

80 Insightful Quotes By Francis Bacon, Father Of Empiricism

Famous As: Philosopher, Statesman and Lord High Chancellor of England
Born On: January 22, 1561
Died On: April 9, 1626
Born In: The Strand, London, England
Died At Age: 65
Francis Bacon was an English author, philosopher, statesman, public speaker, science pioneer and a jurist who lived between 1561 and 1626. He was one of the most influential Englishmen to have ever lived. Bacon was born in a distinguished family and after being home schooled, he attended the University of Cambridge, where he dazzled everyone including Queen Elizabeth I with his intellect. As a statesman, Bacon was without doubt one of the most influential men in the English establishment and held the positions of Attorney General as well as that of Lord Chancellor of England. On the other hand, he was also a superb orator and a philosopher who reveled in natural philosophy and philosophical logic. Bacon was a multi-faceted talent and is credited for establishing the method of empirical studies in the field of science. He propounded the two pronged approach which consisted of being skeptical and methodical. Bacon’s contributions in different fields earned him a Knighthood from King James I and he is still regarded as one of the giants in the history of Great Britain. The below collection of Francis Bacon’s most famous quotes have been excerpted from his famous writings, papers, speeches and thoughts. We bring to you a collection of sayings and quotes by Francis Bacon on wisdom, advice, opportunity, perseverance, humor, inspiration, materialism, friendship, wine, vision, superstition, observation, God, environment and understanding.
Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.

Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.

Francis Bacon
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.

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.

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

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

Francis Bacon
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Francis Bacon
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Francis Bacon
Wonder is the seed of knowledge

Wonder is the seed of knowledge

Francis Bacon
Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.

Francis Bacon
Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand--and melting like a snowflake...

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand--and melting like a snowflake...

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

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

Francis Bacon
Reading maketh a full man; and writing an axact man. And, therefore, if a man write little, he need have a present wit; and if he read little, he need have much cunning to seem to know which he doth not.

Reading maketh a full man; and writing an axact man. And, therefore, if a man write little, he need have a present wit; and if he read little, he need have much cunning to seem to know which he doth not.

Francis Bacon
Money is a great servant but a bad master.

Money is a great servant but a bad master.

Francis Bacon
The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

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

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

Francis Bacon
Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read.

Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read.

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

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

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

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

Francis Bacon
Ipsa scientia potestas est.

Knowledge itself is power.

Ipsa scientia potestas est. Knowledge itself is power.

Francis Bacon
It is impossible to love and be wise.

It is impossible to love and be wise.

Francis Bacon
The general root of superstition : namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one, and forget and pass over the other.

The general root of superstition : namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one, and forget and pass over the other.

Francis Bacon
If we are to achieve things never before accomplished we must employ methods never before attempted

If we are to achieve things never before accomplished we must employ methods never before attempted

Francis Bacon
Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends

Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends

Francis Bacon
The less people speak of their greatness, the more we think of it.

The less people speak of their greatness, the more we think of it.

Francis Bacon
Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

Francis Bacon
God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.

God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.

Francis Bacon
There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.

There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.

Francis Bacon
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

Francis Bacon
The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Francis Bacon
The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

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

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

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

The monuments of wit survive the monuments of power.

Francis Bacon