Audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Bacon suggests that slandering boldly will eventually stick to someone's reputation.
- In plain terms
- If you spread lies loudly enough, people will believe some of them.
- What can you take from it?
- False accusations can stick even if they are baseless.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can you protect yourself from baseless claims?
- Is repeating a lie enough to make it stick?
Another view
It presents calumny as a strategy rather than condemning it.
More from Francis Bacon
Riches are a good handmaid, but the worst mistress.
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