Francis Bacon Quotes (Philosopher)

Francis Bacon was a famous English philosopher, essayist, and statesman, also referred to as The 1st Viscount St Alban or Lord Verulam. See Francis Bacon the Artist here. He is best known for his contribution to the philosophy of empiricism and acquiring knowledge through observation and experience. Famous Francis Bacon publications include “Essays, or Counsels Civil and Moral”, “Novum Organum”, “New Atlantis”, “Wisdom of the Ancients”, “History of the Reign of King Henry VII”, “The Advancement and Proficience of Learning Divine and Human”, “Notes on the State of Christendom”, and “The Colours of Good and Evil”.

Mini biography: Born Francis Bacon on the 22nd of January, 1561 in The Strand, London, England. His mother was Anne Cooke and his father Sir Nicholas Bacon was the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. Bacon married the Alice Barnham in 1604. The writer died on the 9th of April, 1626 in Highgate, Middlesex, England at the age of 65. He was buried in the St. Michael’s Church, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.

List of Famous Francis Bacon Life Quotes

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

But by far the greatest obstacle to the progress of science and to the undertaking of new tasks and provinces therein is found in this — that men despair and think things impossible. Francis Bacon

For a man to love again where he is loved, it is the charity of publicans contracted by mutual profit and good offices; but to love a man’s enemies is one of the cunningest points of the law of Christ, and an imitation of the divine nature. Francis Bacon

The two ways of contemplation are not unlike the two ways of action commonly spoken of by the ancients: the one plain and smooth in the beginning, and in the end impassable; the other rough and troublesome in the entrance, but after a while fair and even. So it is in contemplation: 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

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. Francis Bacon

Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home. Francis Bacon

Those who have taken upon them to lay down the law of nature as a thing already searched out and understood, whether they have spoken in simple assurance or professional affectation, have therein done philosophy and the sciences great injury. For as they have been successful in inducing belief, so they have been effective in quenching and stopping inquiry; and have done more harm by spoiling and putting an end to other men’s efforts than good by their own. Francis Bacon

Man, being the servant and interpreter of Nature, can do and understand so much and so much only as he has observed in fact or in thought of the course of nature. Beyond this he neither knows anything nor can do anything. Francis Bacon

Let great authors have their due, as time, which is the author of authors, be not deprived of his due, which is, further and further to discover truth. Francis Bacon

There is a great difference between the Idols of the human mind and the Ideas of the divine. That is to say, between certain empty dogmas, and the true signatures and marks set upon the works of creation as they are found in nature. Francis Bacon

Sir Francis Bacon Portrait Painting

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