Another argument of hope may be drawn from this-that some of the inventions already known are such as before they were discovered it could hardly have entered any man's head to think of; they would have been simply set aside as impossible. For in conjecturing what may be men set before them the example of what has been, and divine of the new with an imagination preoccupied and colored by the old; which way of forming opinions is very fallacious, for streams that are drawn from the springheads of nature do not always run in the old channels.
Francis BaconHabit, if wisely and skillfully formed, becomes truly a second nature; but unskillfully and unmethodically depicted, it will be as it were an ape of nature, which imitates nothing to the life, but only clumsily and awkwardly
Francis BaconRiches are for spending, and spending for honor and good actions; therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion.
Francis BaconLibraries are as the shrine where all the relics of the ancient saints, full of true virtue, and that without delusion or imposture, are preserved and reposed.
Francis BaconAll superstition is much the same whether it be that of astrology, dreams, omen, retributive judgment, or the like, in all of which the deluded believers observe events which are fulfilled, but neglect and pass over their failure, though it be much more common.
Francis Bacon...to invent is to discover that we know not, and not to recover or resummon that which we already know
Francis BaconAristotle... a mere bond-servant to his logic, thereby rendering it contentious and well nigh useless.
Francis BaconTruth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights. A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure. Doth any man doubt that, if there were taken out of men's minds vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds of a number of men poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves?
Francis BaconI don't believe art is available; it's rare and curious and should be completely isolated; one is more aware of its magic the more it is isolated.
Francis BaconFor my name and memory I leave to men's charitable speeches, and to foreign nations and the next ages.
Francis BaconGod never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it.
Francis BaconDisciples do owe their masters only a temporary belief, and a suspension of their own judgment till they be fully instructed.
Francis BaconA picture should be a re-creation of an event rather than an illustration of an object; but there is no tension in the picture unless there is a struggle with the object.
Francis BaconNor is mine a trumpet which summons and excites men to cut each other to pieces with mutual contradictions, or to quarrel and fight with one another; but rather to make peace between themselves, and turning with united forces against the Nature of Things
Francis BaconLove and envy make a man pine, which other affections do not, because they are not so continual.
Francis BaconJesus would have been one of the best photographers that ever existed. He was always looking at the beauty of people souls. In fact Jesus was constantly making pictures of God in people's life by looking at their souls and exposing them to his light.
Francis BaconNuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.
Francis BaconAnger is certainly a kind of baseness; as it appears well in the weakness of those subjects in whom it reigns; children, women, old folks, sick folks. Only men must beware, that they carry their anger rather with scorn, than with fear; so that they may seem rather to be above the injury, than below it; which is a thing easily done, if a man will give law to himself in it.
Francis BaconHe that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.
Francis BaconMy praise shall be dedicated to the mind itself. The mind is the man, and the knowledge is the mind. A man is but what he knoweth. The mind is but an accident to knowledge, for knowledge is the double of that which is.
Francis BaconYou see, painting has now become, or all art has now become completely a game, by which man distracts himself. What is fascinating actually is, that it's going to become much more difficult for the artist, because he must really deepen the game to become any good at all.
Francis BaconTake an arrow, and hold it in flame for the space of ten pulses, and when it cometh forth you shall find those parts of the arrow which were on the outsides of the flame more burned, blacked, and turned almost to coal, whereas the midst of the flame will be as if the fire had scarce touched it. This is an instance of great consequence for the discovery of the nature of flame; and sheweth manifestly, that flame burneth more violently towards the sides than in the midst.
Francis BaconEnvy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.
Francis BaconThe logic now in use serves rather to fix and give stability to the errors which have their foundation in commonly received notions than to help the search for truth. So it does more harm than good.
Francis BaconI feel ever so strongly that an artist must be nourished by his passions and his despairs. These things alter an artist whether for the good or the better or the worse. It must alter him. The feelings of desperation and unhappiness are more useful to an artist than the feeling of contentment, because desperation and unhappiness stretch your whole sensibility.
Francis BaconNeither the naked hand nor the understanding left to itself can effect much. It is by instruments and helps that the work is done, which are as much wanted for the understanding as for the hand. And as the instruments of the hand either give motion or guide it, so the instruments of the mind supply either suggestions for the understanding or cautions.
Francis BaconDefer not charities till death; for certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth so is rather liberal of another man's than of his own.
Francis BaconBut the best demonstration by far is experience, if it go not beyond the actual experiment.
Francis BaconCertainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.
Francis BaconIn mathematics I can report no deficiency, except it be that men do not sufficiently understand the excellent use of Pure Mathematics.
Francis BaconFor a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.
Francis BaconIt is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one.
Francis Bacon