“Chiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Fortune
Essays (1625)
Quotes from bookEssays
Essayes: Religious Meditations. Places of Perswasion and Disswasion. Seene and Allowed was the first published book by the philosopher, statesman and jurist Francis Bacon. The Essays are written in a wide range of styles, from the plain and unadorned to the epigrammatic. They cover topics drawn from both public and private life, and in each case the essays cover their topics systematically from a number of different angles, weighing one argument against another. While the original edition included 10 essays, a much-enlarged second edition appeared in 1612 with 38. Another, under the title Essayes or Counsels, Civill and Morall, was published in 1625 with 58 essays. Translations into French and Italian appeared during Bacon's lifetime.
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Anger
Essays (1625)
Context: To seek to extinguish anger utterly, is but a bravery of the Stoics. We have better oracles: Be angry, but sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Anger must be limited and confined, both in race and in time.
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Atheism; in the original archaic English this read: I HAD rather beleeve all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, then that this universall Frame, is without a Minde. And therefore, God never wrought Miracle, to convince Atheisme, because his Ordinary Works convince it. It is true, that a little Philosophy inclineth Mans Minde to Atheisme; But depth in Philosophy, bringeth Mens Mindes about to Religion.
Essays (1625)
Context: I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind. And therefore, God never wrought miracle, to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
“A wise man will make more opportunities, than he finds.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Ceremonies and Respect
Essays (1625)
Variant: Wise men make more opportunities than they find.
Source: The Essays
“There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Beauty
Essays (1625)
“The remedy is worse than the disease.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Seditions and Troubles
Essays (1625)
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Essays (1625)
Context: 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.
Of Studies
“In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Revenge
Essays (1625)
Variant: Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon.
“Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Seditions and Troubles
Essays (1625)
Source: The Essays
“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Innovations
Essays (1625)
“Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.”
Francis Bacon book Essays
Of Studies
Essays (1625)
