Francis Bacon - Essays (1597)

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

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

Francis Bacon
The colors that show best by candlelight are white, carnation, and a kind of sea-water green.

Francis Bacon
Nothing doth so much keep men out of the Church, and drive men out of the Church, as breach of unity.

Francis Bacon
The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed.

Francis Bacon
For fountains, they are a Great Beauty and Refreshment, but Pools mar all, and make the Garden unwholesome, and full of Flies and Frogs.

Francis Bacon
Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.

Francis Bacon
In things that are tender and unpleasing, it is good to break the ice by some one whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice to come in as by chance.

Francis Bacon
A man cannot speak to his son, but as a father; to his wife, but as a husband; to his enemy, but upon terms: whereas a friend may speak, as the case requires, and not as it sorteth with the person.

Francis Bacon
A principal fruit of friendship, is the ease and discharge of the fullness and swellings of the heart, which passions of all kinds do cause and induce.

Francis Bacon
Nuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.

Francis Bacon
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.

Francis Bacon
Riches are for spending, and spending for honor and good actions; therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion.

Francis Bacon
Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages. And yet the invention of young men, is more lively than that of old; and imaginations stream into their minds better, and, as it were, more divinely.

Francis Bacon
I work for posterity, these things requiring ages for their accomplishment.

Francis Bacon
When a traveler returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath traveled altogether behind him.

Francis Bacon
Why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me?

Francis Bacon
A man were better relate himself to a statue or picture than to suffer his thoughts to pass in smother.

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

Francis Bacon
Diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises; bowling is good for the stone and veins, shooting for the lungs and breast, gentle walking for the stomach, riding for the head and the like.

Francis Bacon