15 Francis Bacon Quotes on Wisdom

Francis Bacon quotes on wisdom

24. For man seeketh in society comfort, use, and protection: and they be three wisdoms of divers natures, which do often sever: wisdom of the behaviour, wisdom of business, and wisdom of state.

25. Primum quaerite bona animi; caetera aut aderunt, aut non oberunt

26. Silence is the virtue of a fool.

60. Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appears to be best in four things - old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

64. No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage-ground of truth.

75. It was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that 'The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.'

84. For there was never proud man thought so absurdly well of himself, as the lover doth of the person loved; and therefore it was well said, That it is impossible to love, and to be wise.

88. There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise.

89. Boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not dangers and inconveniences.

102. Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.

108. Seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion; but let no man choose them for employment; for certainly you were better take for business, a man somewhat absurd, than over-formal.

114. There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic. A man's own observation, what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health.

117. Intermingle...jest with earnest.

133. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

     Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

134. 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.