Francis Bacon

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure.

We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.

Nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body, and it addeth no small reverence to men’s manners and actions if they be not altogether open. Therefore set it down: That a habit of secrecy is both politic and moral.

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.

A man must make his opportunity, as oft as find it.

If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.

The glory of friendship is not in the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is in the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.

Say what you have to say and first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending; sit down.

He is great who confers the most benefits.

We know now that the soul is the body, and the body the soul. They tell us they are different because they want to persuade us that we can keep our souls if we let them make slaves of our bodies.

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it.

I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.

Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.

Never, my dear Sir, do you take it into your head that I do not love you; you may settle yourself in full confidence both of my love and my esteem; I love you as a kind man, I value you as a worthy man, and hope in time to reverence you as a man of exemplary piety.

Every hero becomes a bore at last.

It is very easy in the world to live by the opinion of the world. It is very easy in solitude to be self-centered. But the finished man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.

The words which express our faith and piety are not definite; yet they are significant and fragrant like frankincense to superior natures.

Slanderers do not hurt me because they do not hit me.

A good conscience is a continual feast.