Francis Bacon

Patience and gravity of hearing is an essential part of justice; and an overspeaking judge is no well-tuned cymbal.

Nothing is terrible except fear itself.

There was a young man in Rome that was very like Augustus Caesar; Augustus took knowledge of it and sent for the man, and asked him “Was your mother never at Rome?” He answered “No Sir; but my father was.”

There are four classes of Idols which beset men’s minds. To these for distinction’s sake I have assigned names—calling the first class, Idols of the Tribe; the second, Idols of the Cave; the third, Idols of the Market-Place; the fourth, Idols of the Theater.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

Be not penny-wise: riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves; sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.

Virtue is like precious odours,—most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.

Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.

They that reverence too much old times are but a scorn to the new.

In all superstition wise men follow fools.

There be many wise men that have secret hearts and transparent countenances.

There is no secrecy comparable to celerity.

To speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order.

Those that want friends to open themselves unto are cannibals of their own hearts.

To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar.

Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.

If there be fuel prepared, it is hard to tell whence the spark shall come that shall set it on fire.

The best preservative to keep the mind in health is the faithful admonition of a friend.

The sun, though it passes through dirty places, yet remains as pure as before.

The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude.

Excusations, cessions, modesty itself well governed, are but arts of ostentation.

Many a man’s strength is in opposition, and when that faileth, he groweth out of use.

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

A lie faces God and shrinks from man.

Time is the greatest innovator.

Wounds cannot be cured without searching.

It is nothing won to admit men with an open door, and to receive them with a shut and reserved countenance.

Men in great places are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.

This communicating of a man’s self to his friend works two contrary effects; for it redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in half.

Fortune is like the market, where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.

The folly of one man is the fortune of another.

The errors of young men are the ruin of business, but the errors of aged men amount to this, that more might have been done, or sooner.

He that cannot possibly mend his own case will do what he can to impair another’s.

It is as natural to die as to be born.

Perils commonly ask to be paid in pleasures.

Since custom is the principal magistrate of man’s life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.