You are not logged in.
       

Browsing Quotes By Francis Bacon

  • The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.
    ...And such is the way of all superstition, whether in astrology, dreams, omens, divine judgments, or the like; wherein men, having a delight in such vanities, mark the events where they are fulfilled, but where they fail, though this happen much oftener, neglect and pass them by. But with far more subtlety does this mischief insinuate itself into philosophy and the sciences; in which the first conclusion colors and brings into conformity with itself all that come after, though far sounder and better. Besides, independently of that delight and vanity which I have described, it is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human intellect to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives; whereas it ought properly to hold itself indifferently disposed toward both alike. Indeed, in the establishment of any true axiom, the negative instance is the more forcible of the two.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Source: Novum Organum
    Rating:
    2 (2 votes)
    Posted: 11 Dec 2014 at 1:16 PM
    Posted By: Puck
  • Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.

    Speaker: FRANCIS BACON
    Rating:
    1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 24 May 2009 at 12:33 PM
    Posted By: ragscorner
    Tags: ability
    Shared By: 2 members; drmccadexavie, ragscorner
  • There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in proportion.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 18 Mar 2009 at 6:20 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Shared By: 2 members; sdressfancy, Puck
  • They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 18 Mar 2009 at 6:19 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Tags: action, courage
    Shared By: 2 members; winswmlik, Puck
  • Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 18 Mar 2009 at 6:19 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Tags: education
  • They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 28 Nov 2008 at 12:57 PM
    Posted By: augmentedfourth
    Tags: discovery
  • A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    0 (0 votes)
    Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 4:08 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Tags: luck, wisdom, work
  • A man who is young in age may still be old and experienced, if he has lost no time.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    0 (0 votes)
    Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 4:08 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Shared By: 2 members; sdressfancy, Puck
  • He that gives good advice builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    0 (0 votes)
    Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 3:24 PM
    Posted By: Puck
    Tags: example, teaching
  • A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.

    Speaker: Francis Bacon
    Rating:
    -1 (1 vote)
    Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 8:18 AM
    Posted By: Puck
    Shared By: 2 members; oursojeri, Puck