There is a cunning which we in England call "the turning of the cat" in the pan; which is, when that which a man says to another, he says it as if another had said it to him.
Francis BaconI think I tend to destroy the better paintings, or those that have been better to a certain extent. I try and take them further, and they lose all their qualities, and they lose everything. I think I would say that I destroy all the better paintings.
Francis BaconNo artist knows in his own lifetime whether what he does will be the slightest good, because it takes at least seventy-five to a hundred years before the thing begins to sort itself out.
Francis BaconChildren sweeten labours. But they make misfortune more bitter. They increase the care of life. But they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity of generation is common to beasts. But memory, merit and noble works are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed.
Francis BaconOf all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing.
Francis BaconAgain there is another great and powerful cause why the sciences have made but little progress; which is this. It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed.
Francis BaconI had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, then that this universall Frame, is without a Minde. And therefore, God never wrought Miracle, to convince Atheisme, because his Ordinary Works Convince it. It is true, that a little Philosophy inclineth Mans Minde to Atheisme; But depth in Philosophy, bringeth Mens Mindes about to Religion.
Francis BaconReading 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 BaconGod has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
Francis BaconMen seem neither to understand their riches nor their strength. Of the former they believe greater things than they should; of the latter, less.
Francis BaconWhen any of the four pillars of government-religion, justice, counsel, and treasure-are mainly shaken or weakened, men had need to pray for fair weather.
Francis BaconI should have been, I don't know, a con-man, a robber or a prostitute. But it was vanity that made me choose painting, vanity and chance.
Francis BaconIt is good discretion not make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.
Francis BaconThere is in man's nature a secret inclination and motion towards love of others, which, if it be not spent upon some one or a few, doth naturally spread itself towards many, and maketh men become humane and charitable, as it is seen sometimes in friars. Nuptial love maketh mankind, friendly love perfecteth it, but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it.
Francis BaconIf my people look as if they're in a dreadful fix, it's because I can't get them out of a technical dilemma.
Francis BaconGreat art is always a way of concentrating, reinventing what is called fact, what we know of our existence- a reconcentration… tearing away the veils, the attitudes people acquire of their time and earlier time. Really good artists tear down those veils
Francis BaconNothing doth so much keep men out of the Church, and drive men out of the Church, as breach of unity.
Francis BaconObservation and experiment for gathering material, induction and deduction for elaborating it: these are are only good intellectual tools.
Francis BaconWhen Christ came into the world, peace was sung; and when He went out of the world, peace was bequeathed.
Francis BaconTo be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.
Francis BaconI like, you may say, the glitter and colour that comes from the mouth, and I've always hoped in a sense to be able to paint the mouth like Monet painted a sunset.
Francis BaconWhen a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.
Francis BaconVery few people have a natural feeling for painting, and so, of course, they naturally think that painting is an expression of the artist's mood. But it rarely is. Very often he may be in greatest despair and be painting his happiest paintings.
Francis BaconOne of the fathers saith . . . that old men go to death, and death comes to young men.
Francis BaconThe images of mens wits and knowledge remain in books. They generate still, and cast their seeds in the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding ages
Francis BaconThe best preservative to keep the mind in health is the faithful admonition of a friend.
Francis Bacon