EssaysIn this collection of essays originally published in 1625, Bacon delves in to a variety of topics, using inductive reasoning to find truth based on observations of the world. The application of inductive reason to scientific and philosophical pursuits was a breakthrough in the history of human knowledge. Students of history and philosophy, as well as those intrigued by the world's great minds, can find in these essays Sir Francis Bacon's commentary on such topics as: .Death .Religion .Beauty .Friendship .Anger .The Nature of Men SIR FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) was a British scientist and philosopher who is best remembered for inventing the scientific method of hypothesis and experimentation that is used today. Many of his writings discussed how to use this method for philosophical inquiry. As a man of religion, Bacon was careful to distinguish between reason-based philosophy and faith-based revelation, considering both essential to human thought. |
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Page 23
... likewise the Scripture calleth envy an evil eye ; and the astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects ; so that still there seemeth to be acknowledged , in the act of envy , an ejaculation1 or irradiation of the eye ...
... likewise the Scripture calleth envy an evil eye ; and the astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects ; so that still there seemeth to be acknowledged , in the act of envy , an ejaculation1 or irradiation of the eye ...
Page 25
... likewise more into the note of others ; and envy ever redoubleth from speech and fame . Cain's envy was the more vile and malignant towards his brother Abel , because when his sacrifice was better accepted there was no body to look on ...
... likewise more into the note of others ; and envy ever redoubleth from speech and fame . Cain's envy was the more vile and malignant towards his brother Abel , because when his sacrifice was better accepted there was no body to look on ...
Page 27
... likewise usual in infections ; which if you fear them , you call them upon you . This public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon principal officers or ministers , rather than upon kings and estates themselves . But this is a sure rule ...
... likewise usual in infections ; which if you fear them , you call them upon you . This public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon principal officers or ministers , rather than upon kings and estates themselves . But this is a sure rule ...
Page 30
... likewise be partaker of God's rest . Et conversus Deus , ut aspiceret opera quæ fecerunt manus suæ , vidit quod omnia essent bona nimis [ And God turned to look upon the works which his hands had made , and saw that all were very good ] ...
... likewise be partaker of God's rest . Et conversus Deus , ut aspiceret opera quæ fecerunt manus suæ , vidit quod omnia essent bona nimis [ And God turned to look upon the works which his hands had made , and saw that all were very good ] ...
Page 31
... likewise the rights of inferior places ; and think it more honor to direct in chief than to be busy in all . Embrace and invite helps and advices touching the execution of thy place ; and do not drive away such as bring thee information ...
... likewise the rights of inferior places ; and think it more honor to direct in chief than to be busy in all . Embrace and invite helps and advices touching the execution of thy place ; and do not drive away such as bring thee information ...
Contents
Of Wisdom for a Mans Self | 63 |
Of Innovations | 65 |
Of Dispatch | 66 |
Of Seeming Wise | 67 |
Of Friendship | 69 |
Of Expense | 75 |
Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates | 76 |
Of Regiment of Health | 85 |
23 | |
28 | |
29 | |
Of Boldness | 33 |
Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature | 34 |
Of Nobility | 36 |
Of Seditions and Troubles | 38 |
Of Atheism | 44 |
Of Superstition | 47 |
Of Travel | 48 |
Of Empire | 50 |
Of Counsel | 55 |
Of Delays | 59 |
Of Cunning | 60 |
Of Suspicion | 86 |
Of Discourse | 87 |
Of Plantations | 89 |
Of Riches | 92 |
Of Prophecies | 95 |
Of Ambition | 98 |
Of Masques and Triumphs | 100 |
Of Gardens | 117 |
Of Negotiating | 123 |
Of Faction | 129 |
Of Honor and Reputation | 135 |
Of Anger | 141 |
Of Fame | 147 |
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Common terms and phrases
actions affection alleys amongst ancient atheism Augustus Cæsar better beware body bold Cæsar cause Certainly Cicero cometh command commonly counsel counsellors court cunning custom danger death discontentments discourse dissimulation doth England envy Epicurus Epimetheus fair fame favor fear fortune Galba garden give giveth goeth grace greatest ground hand hath heart honor hurt judge judgment Julius Cæsar Jupiter kind kings less likewise maketh man's matter means men's ment merchants mind monarchy motion nature ness never nobility noble opinion persons plantation pleasure Plutarch poets Pompey primum mobile princes profanum religion remedy rest riches Romans secrecy secret sect seditions seemeth Sejanus Septimius Severus servants side soldiers sometimes sort Sparta speak speech superstition sure suspicions Tacitus Themistocles things thou thought Tiberius true unto usury Vespasian virtue wars whereby wherein whereof wisdom wise
Popular passages
Page 130 - Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
Page 24 - Chaste women are often proud and froward, as presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is one of the best bonds, both of chastity and obedience, in the wife, if she think her husband wise, which she will never do if she find him jealous. Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses...
Page 103 - Multum incola fuit anima mea," * when they converse in those things they do not affect. In studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon himself, let him set hours for it : but whatsoever is agreeable to his nature, let him take no care for any set times ; for his thoughts will fly to it of themselves, so as the spaces of other business or studies will suffice. A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds ; therefore, let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.
Page 45 - I HAD rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran ', than that this universal frame is without a mind.
Page 9 - But howsoever these things are thus in men's depraved judgments and affections, yet truth, which only doth judge itself, teacheth that the inquiry of truth, which is the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the presence of it, and the belief of truths which is the enjoying of it, is the sovereign good of human nature.
Page 18 - Certainly, virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed. For prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Page 31 - Nay, retire men cannot when they would, neither will they when it were reason, but are impatient of privateness, even in age and sickness, which require the shadow; like old townsmen, that will' be still sitting at their street door, though thereby they offer age to scorn.
Page 50 - If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do; first, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth ; then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said : let him carry with him also some card or book, describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry...