WIST

I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Atheism,” Essays (1625)

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Beauty,” Essays (1625)

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Ceremonies and Respects,” Essays (1625)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Cunning,” Essays (1625)

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Death,” Essays (1625)

A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Friendship,” Essays (1625)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Gardens,” Essays (1625)

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature,” Essays (1625)

All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Great Place”
Full text.

Ask counsel of both times — of the ancient time what is best, and of the latter time what is fittest.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Great Place,” Essays (1625)

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time is the greatest innovator.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Innovation,” Essays (1625)

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldome extinguished. Force maketh nature more violent in the return.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Nature in Men,” Essays (1625)

Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Praise,” Essays (1625)

A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Revenge,” Essays (1625)

Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Revenge,” Essays (1625)

Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Riches,” Essays, No. 34 (1627)
Also attributed to BenjaminFranklin

Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Seditions and Troubles,” Essays (1625)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Studies,” Essays (1625)

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Studies,” Essays (1625)

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Studies,” Essays (1625)

The greatest vicissitude of things amongst men is the vicissitude of sects and religions.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
“Of Vicissitude of Things,” Essays (1625)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
(Attributed)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
(Attributed)

The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
(Attributed)

A man would do well to carry a pencil in his pocket and write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought are commonly the most valuable, and should be secured because they seldom return.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
(Attributed)

Some men covet knowledge out of a natural curiosity and inquisitive temper; some to entertain the mind with variety and delight; some for ornament and reputation; some for victory and contention; many for lucre and a livelihood; and but very few for employing the Divine gift of reason to the use and benefit of mankind.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
Advancement of Learning, 3.1 (1605)

Croesus said to Cambyses; That peace was better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their fathers, but in wars the fathers did bury their sons.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
Apophthegms, #149 (1625)

Cato said the best way to keep good acts in memory was to refresh them with new.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
Apothegms, #247 (1624)

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

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
Apothegms, #3 (1624)

Good fame is like fire. When you have kindled it, you may easily preserve it; but if once you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again; at least, not make it burn as bright as it did.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
Apothegms, #3 (1625)
Quoting Plutarch.