Francis Bacon

What is truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer.

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est (Knowledge Itself Is Power)

For knowledge itself is power.

Anger makes dull men witty – but it keeps them poor.

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.

Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you are.

While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till grief be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.

The cat, having sat upon a hot stove lid, will not sit upon a hot stove lid again. But he won’t sit upon a cold stove lid, either.

The ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.

Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.

Europe extends to the Alleghenies; America lies beyond.

I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.

Does he council you better who bids you, Money, by right means, if you can: but by any means, make money?

The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue.

Depend upon it that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him.

In Boston they ask, How much does he know? In New York, How much is he worth? In Philadelphia, Who were his parents?

The purity men love is like the mists which envelope the earth, and not like the azure ether beyond.

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us which would have to be taken into account in an explanation of our gusts and storms.

Let us not look east and west for materials of conversation, but rest in presence and unity. A just feeling will fast enough supply fuel for discourse, if speaking be more grateful than silence. When people come to see us, we foolishly prattle, lest we be inhospitable. But things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don’t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. A lady of my acquaintance said, I don’t care so much for what they say as I do for what makes them say it.

He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.